VALLEY VIEW UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

COURSE: INFT420 – COMPUTER HUMAN INTERACTION

LECTURER: PRINCE YAW OWUSU AMOAKO

END- SEMESTER EXAM SECOND SEMESTER 2020/2021

TIME LIMIT: 8 hours

INSTRUCTION TO STUDENT

Attempt ONLY FOUR Questions. Question 1 and any other three questions. Provide
detailed answers to any question you attempt.

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Question 1

a) Don Norman suggests organizing screens and menus functionally, designing

commands and menu choices to be distinctive, and making it difficult
for users to take irreversible actions. Norman also says to provide feedback
about the state of the interface (e.g., changing the cursor to show whether a
map interface is in zoom-in or select mode) and designing for consistency of
actions (e.g., ensuring that Yes/No buttons are always displayed in the same
order). State one example you have seen where you know these rules have
been violated. Although this is crucial to a user interface’s success, suggest
why there may be challenges to implement some of Norman’s guidelines.
[10 marks]
b) You are the new Chief Design Officer (CDO) of a start-up, DTUI Inc. The
project is to design a system for selling pottery. The aim is to develop an interface
that meets the needs of both the potters and the customers. Describe
in detail a design methodology of four stages to facilitate the proper design of
such a system.
Write your answer in the form of a management plan for this project. For
each stage, indicate the number of weeks that should be allocated. Hint: Note
the four phases of the design process:
• Requirements
• Analysis
• Preliminary (conceptual) and detailed design
• Build and implementation
• Evaluation
[15 marks]

c) The Electoral Commission of Ghana is developing a web-voting interface. For

selecting the candidates, one design (RB) is a set of radio buttons and another is
(CB) a combo-box (drops down when selecting the scroll arrow icon), both using
standard fonts at 10-point size.
I. Compare these two designs when there are four candidates and predict
the relative speed of performance and error rates. Support your choice by a
thoughtful argument. [5 marks]
II. An expert reviewer complains that both designs may work with young users
who are familiar and expert in using a mouse, but that there will be problems
for elderly and motor-impaired users who have difficulty controlling a
mouse. The reviewer recommends a new design that includes a larger font

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 (20-point size) and a numbered list to allow selection by keyboard easily.
Describe a participatory design or social impact statement process that might
clarify this issue with elderly users. [5 marks]
III. Design an experiment to help resolve the issue brought up in question 3.
Assume you have substantial resources and access to subjects. [5 marks]

Question 2

a) As noted in our discussions, some skeptics feel that accommodating diversity

requires dumbing-down or lowest-common-denominator strategies. However,
the authors claim that in their experience, rethinking interface designs to
accommodate these diversity situations will result in a better product for all
users. Give an example of a product that meets the specific needs of a certain
group of people, yet gives all users a better experience. [10 marks]
b) What factors should designers consider to address the needs of individuals
with different physical abilities? [5 marks]
c) Give a brief explanation of the Eight Golden Rules of Interface Design. State
an example you have seen on a device, computer interface, or web site that
violates those rules. [5 marks]

Question 3

a) How can designers encourage novice users to use a system? [5 Marks]

b) In certain interfaces, it is necessary to inform users of an abnormal condition or
time-dependent information. It is important that the display of this information
catches the user’s attention. Discuss five ways a designer can successfully attract
attention. [5 marks]
c) What are the stages of forming explanatory theories as suggested by Don
Norman? [5 marks]
d) Cite a past experience where user-interface development methods might
apply to another system development activity that might not have a strong
user-interface component. [5 marks]

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Question 4
a) Suggest three usability measures that can be directly used to produce a
practical evaluation of a system. Keep the goals of efficiency and satisfaction
in mind with these measures. [5 Marks]
b) Describe three populations of users with special needs. For each of these
populations, suggest three ways current interfaces could be improved to better
serve them. [5 Marks]
c) Clarify the difference among guidelines, principles, and theories. [5 Marks]
d) Compare and contrast controlled psychological experiments and usability
tests in the evaluation process of user interfaces. Be sure to include the benefits
and limitations of each [5 Marks]

Question 5
a) Suppose you need to design a system for users in two countries that are very
different from each other culturally. What are some of the design concerns
that you should be aware of to create a successful design? [5 Marks]
b) What are some of the techniques that can be used to get the user’s attention?
Why is it important to exercise caution when using these techniques?
[5 marks]
c) Consider a system that does not yet exist; for example, a totally automated
fast-food restaurant, where customers order via touch screen interactions,
pay by swiping their debit or credit cards, and then pick up their food—
analogous to the self-check-out at some supermarkets, but even more extreme.
Discuss how you would conduct a contextual inquiry for a system that does
not yet exist. [5 marks]
d) Describe at least three different types of expert review methods. [5 marks]

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