Human Computer Interaction

EXPLORING HCI
 Introduction to Exploring HCI
• Computers are finding their way into more
and more devices, and as a result HCI is
becoming more and more omni-present.
• It used to be that you wouldn’t really need to
think too much about HCI when designing a
car or designing a refrigerator, but more and
more computing is pervading everywhere.
 Exploring HCI
• At the same time, new technological
developments are opening up new areas for
exploration.
• We are seeing a lot of really fascinating
progress in areas like:
– Virtual reality
– Augmented reality
– Wearable devices etc.
 Exploring HCI
• As we study HCI, we are going to talk a lot
about things we have already used like
computer and phones.
• But we will also discuss some of these cutting-
edge application areas as well.
• As a professional, we have to design for these
areas as well.
 Exploring HCI
• So, we will divide these into three main areas:
– Technologies
– Domains
– Ideas
 Technologies
• These are emerging capabilities that let us
create new and interesting user interactions.
– Virtual reality
– Augmented reality
– Pervasive computing
– Robotics
– Mobile
 Virtual Reality
• An immersive computer-simulated reality.
• It is an entire new classification of interaction
and visualization.
– Can be used to resolve motion sickness.
– Give proper feedback on gestural interactions.
– Used in video games.
– Tourism, arts, commerce, education etc.
– VR Therapy and counseling center, Michigan
• VU is used to treat phobias.
VR
 Augmented Reality
• Imagine a headset with a google glass that
automatically overlays directions right on our
visual fields.
• If you were driving, it would highlight the
route to take, instead of a remainder.
 AR
• Example:
– Show you the reviews about the
restaurants while you are wandering.

– It can translate the text for you

automatically.

– During educational tours, it can

automatically point out interesting
information
AR
 Problems with AR
• It relies on cameras.
• There are questions about what putting
cameras everywhere would mean.
– Politics
– Security
– Social norms
 VR vs AR
• VU generally works by replacing the real
world’s visual, auditory, and sometimes even
olfactory and kinesthetic stimuli with its own
input.
• AU compliments what you see and hear in real
world.
• In short, VU replaces the stimuli while AR
compliments them.
 Pervasive Computing
• It refers to the trend towards embedding
computing power in more and more objects.
• It is deeply related to the emerging idea of IoT.
 IoT
• The internet of things, or IoT, is a system of
interrelated computing devices, mechanical
and digital machines, objects, animals or
people that are provided with unique
identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer
data over a network without requiring human-
to-human or human-to-computer interaction
 Pervasive Computing
• Modern HCI means thinking about whatever
someone might use computer while they are
driving a car or going on a run.

• It means figuring out how to build smart

devices that lessens some of the cognitive
load from the user.
• They can track and asses themselves and can
also advice the user.
 Pervasive Computing
• It has also led to the rise of wearable
technologies like exercise monitors.
• It is also related with:
– Human Factors Engineering
– Industrial design
 Robotics
• A lot of current focus on robotics is on their
physical construction and abilities or on the
artificial intelligence that underlies their
physical forms.
• With robots becoming more common, may be
we see a new course like HCI, the HRI or
human-robot interaction
 Robotics
• Can they interact with humans based on
things like voice, smell and touch?
• Can they understand the intention or feelings
behind our voice?
• Feedback to see if our input is recognized.
• Can we just teach robots instead of
programming?
• Can they teach humans!!!???
 Mobile
• One of the biggest changes to computing over
the past several years has been the incredible
growth of mobile as a computing platform.
• This introduces new design challenges.
• Issues:
– Limited screen
– Imprecise input methods
– Distracted users
 Mobile
• Challenges:
– We haven’t reached a point yet where the
majority of people would do almost everything on
mobiles.
– Limited domain:
• Social networking
• Personal organization
• Games etc.