Human Computer

Interaction
What is HCI

HCI is 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.
(ACM SIGCHI, 1992, p.6)
•A set of processes, dialogues and
actions through which human user
employs and interacts with a
computer. (Baecker and
Buxton,1987,p.40)
Human-computer interaction is
about designing computer systems
that support people so that they can
carry out their activities productively
and safely. (Preece 1994)

It is a study of the relationships or

interaction which exits between
human users and the computer
systems they use to perform their
various tasks.
Technological change: different design
needs

For computer to be widely accepted

and used effectively they need to be
well designed.

Computers should be designed for the

needs and capabilities of the people for
whom they are intended. The designer
should think beyond merely what
capabilities the system should have.
The designer needs to consider the
interaction that goes on between
users and a computer system.
It means:

An input language for user

An output language for the machine

A protocol for interaction

In 1970s, a new term for user
interface – Man-Machine Interaction.
Moran defined as ‘those aspects of
the system that the users comes in
contact with’
Technological change (cont’d)

The term Human-Computer

Interaction was adopted in 1980s –

describing the new field of study. It

concerns not just the interface
design but all aspects that relate to
the interaction between humans
and computers.
Two key principles that help to
ensure good HCI: (Donald
Norman,1988)
•Visibility
•Affordance
•Visibility – range in which we can
see clearly in any conditions

•Affordance – the design suggest

their functionality
The Challenge of HCI How to keep
abreast of changes in technology.

How to ensure that their designs

offer good HCI as harnessing the
potential functionality of the new
technology
The Goals of HCI
Provide an understanding of both the
human user and the computer
system, means the interaction must
be easy and satisfying.
To produce usable, effective,
efficient and safe systems as well as
functional systems. Enhance the
quality and efficiency of interaction
between human and computers To
make technology easier to learn and
use.
To understand users, it is necessary to
understand the processes, capabilities
and predilections that they might bring
to the tasks they perform.

To understand what the computer can

do for users and how it might best
communicate with them.

To understand the user’s task and

how it might best be accomplished
using the computer system.
Non-experts began using computers

HCI and Its Evolution History

Electronic computers first appeared in

the 1950s and 60s – extremely
expensive.

Things began to change in the late

1970s and early 80s – the size became
smaller and cheaper.
1981 – IBM Corp. introduce the
first IBM Personal Computer,
targeted for home users and small
business use. It costs less and
more people were able to
purchase.

NEW PHENOMENOM Non-experts

began using computers
HCI and Its Evolution

For this group of people,

computers were similar to cars
and telephone – like a tool to assist
them in their work.
For them, knowledge of a
computer’s internal workings was
not interesting. They want to use
it.
Because of this trend, the computer
and software manufacturer started
considering the benefits of creating
products that were user- friendly.

The researchers began to study

these problems, and they managed
to relate with the human factors
and ergonomics.
HCI and Its Evolution

1982, the Association for Computing

Machinery (ACM) approved a special
interest group for Human-Computer
Interaction (SIGCHI) – goals: to promote
the use of human factors in the human
computer interaction. Today :
interactive computing system.
The Importance of HCI Computers are
now widely used by people who may be
experts in their particular field, but
they are not computer experts.

This means that systems have to be

user friendly. Systems should also
consider some aspects of the cost.
The cost of software is high and the
competitive edge is more difficult to
achieve. The interface to a system
might give it this edge.
The cost to train users is high,
therefore, a system which is easy and
natural to use will save money in the
long run, since the training time will
be kept to a minimum.

The cost of human error can be high.

Systems that are transparent ought
to reduce the likelihood of error or to
aid error recovery.
Productivity Improvement in work
performance
Customer satisfaction – related to
improvement of usability.

The aim of HCI should be to build

computer applications that are
jargon free and easy to use to the
degree that all the user sees is the
task and not the computer system
at all.
Key points
Computers are used by a different
kinds of people, so it is important to
design HCI that supports the needs,
knowledge and skills of intended
users.
HCI is concerned with
understanding, designing,
evaluating, and implementing
interactive computing systems for
human use.
The goals of HCI are to develop the
safety, utility, effectiveness,
efficiency, and usability of systems
that include computers.
Questions?
1. What is the difference between
the terms ‘user interface’ and
‘human-computer interaction’?

2. What are some of the ways that

working practices may change as
a result of introducing new
technology?