Human Computer Interaction

1
Human Computer Interaction

• Definition
• the study of people, computer technology and the
  ways these influence each other. It is a study
  to determine how to make computer technology more
  usable by people.
• Requires an understanding of the following
• The computer technology
• the people who interact with it
• what is meant by more usable
• Understanding the work that people are trying to
  perform by using the technology
• Dix et al (1993)

2
Human Computer Interaction

• Definition
• The discipline concerned with the design,
  evaluation, and implementation of interactive
  computing systems for human use and with the
  study of the major phenomena surrounding them.
• Dix et al (1993)

3
Human Computer Interaction

• HCI is more than just understanding peoples
  psychological processes when interacting with
  computers- Must consider other aspects
• Training
• Working practices
• Management and organisational issues
• Health Hazards
• Preece J (1994

4
Human Computer Interaction

• The goals of HCI are to produce usable,
  functional and safe systems
• Usable making things easy to learn and easy to
  use.
• Preece J (1994

5
Human Computer Interaction

• In order to produce Computer Systems with good
  usability, HCI specialists strive to -
• Understand the factors (psychological, ergonomic,
  organisational and social factors) that determine
  how people operate and make use of computer
  technology effectively and to translate that
  understanding into the
• development of tools and techniques to help
  designers ensure that computer systems are
  suitable for the activities for which people will
  use them, in order to
• achieve efficient,effective and safe interaction
  both in terms of individual human-computer
  interaction and group interactions
• Preece J (1994)