CSI392: HCI

B. Gopolang
Computer Science, UB
Office: 247/275

Lecture 01: Introduction

Lecture outline
1. Course Administration
– Course Objectives
– Course Outline
– Timetable
– Course Material
– Reference Material
– Course Assessment
– Course Rules

2. Course Introduction

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Course admin…
Course objectives

• To explain basic HCI concepts

• To understand HCI theories and techniques, and

different interaction models

• To gain knowledge on conducting requirements

analysis and evaluation of real-world interaction
systems.

• To design and implement appropriate user

interfaces for a variety of tasks.

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Timetable
Lectures Labs
Day Thurs Thurs
Time 12-2pm 9-11am, 3-5pm
Venue 252/029 247/293

Course Material
• Notes will be posted online prior to lectures
– http://www.cs.ub.bw/moodle/)
– Download and bring to class & labs
– Check regularly for updates and announcements
WARNING!
These lecture notes are NOT enough.
You MUST attend all lectures, labs & do all
recommended exercises and assessments. 5
Reference material
• Required Textbook:
– Sharp H., Rogers Y. and Preece J., (2015),
Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer
Interaction, 4th Ed., Wiley.

• Any other useful HCI reference

– (Check UB Library)
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Assessments
• CA (40%)
– 2 tests (15% each)
• During lab sessions
– 17th March 2022
– 21st Apr 2022
– Group project (10%)
• Due date TBA
• Final Exam (60%)
– Check UB timetable once published
• Gate pass for all?
– Your valid UB student ID card
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Course Rules
• Attendance is compulsory
– Attendance registers will be kept

• No late coming

• No late submissions

• Academic dishonesty will attract a mark of ZERO

(and repeat offenders will be forwarded to relevant
UB offices)

• Mobile phones, headsets and laptops not allowed

– labs, lectures and exam

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Course Intro…
1. What is HCI?

• ACM definition:

– "a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation

and implementation of interactive computing
systems for human use and with the study of major
phenomena surrounding them".

• In simple terms:
– A study of how people interact with computer
systems to perform tasks
• E.gs: writing a report, driving home, making
a reservation, landing a plane, etc.

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 Visually…
Cognition Processing…

Interface
Human Computer

Interaction

Thus, HCI sits at the intersection of

computer science & behavioral sciences.
2. HCI components
a) People – User (Human)
– Diverse
• Physically, Experiences, Motivations, Mental
models, Abilities, e.g. cognitive, etc
– Unpredictable
– Can be misunderstood by developers

• Note:
– We use systems to achieve specific goals
– We can sense low level stimuli, recognize
patterns, apply inductive reasoning, adopt
multiple strategies, etc.
b) Computer (Technology)
– Modern day devices are:
• More completed
• Multi-functional
– Pace of technology change: higher

• Note:
– Computers good with “Simple and sharply
defined things”.
• Egs: counting, measuring, accurate storage,
recall, quick and consistent responses,
repetitive actions
c) Interaction
– Communication between H & C
• Dialogue: Human & Computer

• Note:
– System interface very key for interaction
People interacting with technology

User interface

• Action cycle (by Don Norman)

• Action cycle’s 2 main aspects:

• Execution
– Develop an intention
– Set out sequence of actions
– Act

• Evaluation
– Develop a perception
– Interpret the perception
– Evaluate perception (compare)
3. Why is HCI important?
1. Computer systems affect every person
– Humans interact with computers in many ways
• Computers,
• Wristwatch
• Car
• Reservation systems
• Phones
• Photocopiers
• Washing machines
• Running shoes
• etc
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2. Safety, satisfaction and utility are critical to users

– Help designers understand users & the

computer sys
• For provision of a more effective and
enjoyable interaction

– Key feature of HCI:

• securing user satisfaction

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3. Product success depends on ease of use (usability)
– One key element to usability is user interface
– HCI help designers understand why some
software products are good while others are bad

– Bad interfaces are costly

• Can lead to loss of lives
• Time - more time to complete tasks
• Money
– Note: technology is worthless unless people can
use it properly

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4. HCI goal?
• To ensure system usability

– Making technology more user friendly

“A usable software system is one that supports the
effective and efficient completion of tasks in a given work
context” (Karat and Dayton 1995).
– Reducing this gap:

• What the users want to achieve through the

system &
• The system’s response to the user’s request

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– Benefits of a more usable s/w system
a) to users:
• Reduced user errors
• Reduced user training time and cost
• Reduced need for ongoing technical support
• Increased productivity
• Increased data input & interpretation
accuracy
b) to development organizations:

– Reduced overall development and maintenance

costs
– Reduced customer support costs
– Greater profits
• from more competitive products/services
– More follow-on business
• Due to satisfied customers

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5. HCI Factors
• Factors required to achieve usability include:
– Cognitive, perceptual, and motor capabilities
and constraints of people in general
– Special and unique characteristics of the
intended user population in particular
– Unique characteristics of the users’ physical and
social work environment
– Unique characteristics and requirements of the
users’ tasks to be supported by the software
– Unique capabilities and constraints of the
chosen software and/or hardware and platform
for the product
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Disciplines contributing to HCI
• HCI is a multidisciplinary field

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 Summary
• Course admin
• Course Introduction

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