HUMAN COMPUTER

INTERACTION
CS214
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION
It refers to the study of how people interact with computers and the
design of interactive systems.
HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HCI
● HCI has its roots in the 1960s and 1970s when researchers
started exploring ways to improve the interaction between
humans and computers.
● During this time, computers were primarily used by experts, and
the interaction was limited to programming languages and
command-line interfaces.
HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HCI
● Douglas Engelbart, in the 1960s, introduced the concept of
interactive computing and demonstrated innovations like the
mouse, hypertext, and collaborative tools.
● Ivan Sutherland's "Sketchpad" system in 1963 pioneered the use
of graphical interfaces and introduced the idea of direct
manipulation.
● These early pioneers laid the foundation for the development of
user-friendly interfaces and the emergence of HCI as a field of
study.
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HCI
● Cognitive Psychology plays a crucial role in HCI by providing
insights into how humans perceive, process, and interpret
information. It helps designers understand users' mental models,
attention, memory, and decision-making processes.
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HCI
● Human Factors Engineering focuses on designing systems that
are ergonomically sound, considering factors such as user
comfort, safety, and usability. It applies principles from fields like
ergonomics and industrial design to create interfaces that are
efficient and intuitive.
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HCI
● Information Processing Models help explain how humans acquire,
store, and retrieve information. These models aid in designing
interfaces that align with human cognitive abilities and optimize
information presentation and organization.
● These models, such as the Atkinson-Shiffrin model or the
information processing cycle, aid in designing interfaces that
align with human cognitive abilities.
THE ROLE OF HCI IN INTERACTIVE DESIGN
● HCI plays a crucial role in the design of interactive systems by
ensuring that they meet users' needs, preferences, and expectations.
● User-centered design is a key approach used in HCI, which involves
understanding users' perspectives, involving them throughout the
design process, and iterating designs based on user feedback.
● Usability testing is another important aspect of HCI, where
interactive systems are evaluated to assess their ease of use,
efficiency, learnability, and user satisfaction.
USER RESEARCH METHODS
● Surveys and questionnaires: Gathering quantitative data by asking
users to provide their opinions, preferences, and ratings on various
aspects of the interface.
● Interviews and focus groups: Conducting qualitative research by
engaging in one-on-one or group discussions with users to gain in-
depth insights into their needs, motivations, and behaviors.
● Observation and ethnography: Studying users in their natural
environment to observe their behavior, challenges, and interactions
with technology. This method provides valuable contextual insights.
USABILITY TESTING
● Usability testing is a method to evaluate the usability of an
interactive system by observing users as they perform specific tasks.
● Think-aloud method: Users verbalize their thoughts and actions
while interacting with the system, providing insights into their
cognitive processes and usability issues.
● Task-based testing: Users are given predefined tasks to perform,
and their performance, efficiency, and satisfaction are assessed.
● Heuristic evaluation: Experts evaluate the interface against a set of
usability heuristics to identify potential usability problems.
INTERACTION DESIGN PRINCIPLES
● Consistency: Maintaining a uniform and predictable interface
layout and behavior to reduce cognitive load and enable users to
develop a mental model of the system.
● Feedback: Providing clear and timely feedback to users about the
outcome of their actions, helping them understand the system's
state and progress.
● Simplicity: Striving for simplicity in design by eliminating
unnecessary complexity, minimizing cognitive load, and making
interfaces intuitive and easy to understand.
INTERACTION DESIGN GUIDELINES
● Visual Design: Applying principles of typography, color schemes,
visual hierarchy, and layout to create visually appealing and
engaging interfaces.
● Navigation and Information Architecture: Organizing content and
navigation elements in a logical and intuitive way to help users
find what they need quickly and easily.
● Accessibility: Ensuring that interfaces are inclusive and accessible
to users with disabilities, incorporating features like alternative
text for images, keyboard accessibility, and adjustable font sizes.
USER EXPERIENCE (UX) DESIGN
● User Experience (UX) design focuses on the holistic experience
of users with interactive systems, encompassing their emotions,
perceptions, and overall satisfaction.
● Emotional design considers the impact of aesthetics, tone, and
branding on user emotions and engagement, aiming to create
positive and memorable experiences.
● Designing for delight involves adding unexpected, delightful
moments in the user experience, which can contribute to user
satisfaction and engagement.
CHALLENGES IN HCI DESIGN
● Multimodal Interaction: Designing interfaces that support
different input and output methods, such as touch, voice, gestures,
and haptics, to cater to diverse user preferences and abilities.
● Context-Aware Systems: Creating interfaces that adapt to users'
environmental context and situational needs, providing relevant
and personalized information and interactions.
● Ethical Considerations: Addressing privacy, security, and social
implications of technology to ensure that interactive systems are
designed ethically and responsibly.
FUTURE TRENDS IN HCI
● Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) interfaces: Expanding
the possibilities of immersive and interactive experiences by blending digital
content with the real world or creating entirely virtual environments.
● Natural Language Processing and Conversational Interfaces: Enabling
users to interact with technology using natural language, voice commands,
and chatbots, making interactions more conversational and intuitive.
● Human-AI Collaboration and Explainable AI: Designing interfaces that
facilitate collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence, and
ensuring transparency and explainability of AI systems.
FUTURE TRENDS IN HCI
● Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) interfaces: Expanding
the possibilities of immersive and interactive experiences by blending digital
content with the real world or creating entirely virtual environments.
● Natural Language Processing and Conversational Interfaces: Enabling
users to interact with technology using natural language, voice commands,
and chatbots, making interactions more conversational and intuitive.
● Human-AI Collaboration and Explainable AI: Designing interfaces that
facilitate collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence, and
ensuring transparency and explainability of AI systems.