Human Computer

Interaction
In this unit we will discuss about the

Human Computer Interaction (HCI)

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

World Wide Web(WWW)

 About HCI
• Human–computer interaction (HCI) researches
the Design and use of Computer technology,
focusing particularly on the interfaces between
people (users) and computers.
• Researchers in the field of HCI both observe the
ways in which humans interact with computers
and design technologies that let humans interact
with computers in novel ways.
• As a field of research, Human-Computer Interaction
is situated at the intersection of 
Computer science, 
Behavioral sciences, 
Design, 
Media studies, and several other fields of study.
• The term was popularized by Stuart K.
Card and Allen Newell of Carnegie Mellon
University and Thomas P. Moran of IBM
Research in their seminal 1983 book, 
 Where HCI came from
Until the late 1970s,
the only humans who interacted with computers
were information technology professionals and
dedicated hobbyists.
This changed disruptively with the emergence of
personal computing in the later 1970s.
• Personal computing, It includes
Personal software and
Personal computer platforms
• Personal software such as

• text editors and

• spreadsheets, and

• interactive computer games.

• Personal computer platforms such as
Operating systems,

Hardware, and

Programming languages
• This made everyone in the world a potential computer user,
and vividly highlighted the deficiencies of computers with
respect to usability for those who wanted to use computers
as tools.
Introduction
to
User Interface
 Interface (computing)
• In computing, an interface is a shared boundary
across which two separate components of a
computer system exchange information.
• The exchange can be between
software,
computer hardware,
peripheral devices,
humans and combinations of these.
 Hardware interfaces
• Hardware interfaces exist in many of the
components such as the various buses, storage
devices, other I/O devices, etc.
Software interfaces
• A software interface may refer to a wide range of
different types of interface at different "levels":
• An operating system may interface with pieces of
hardware.
• Applications or programs running on the operating
system may need to interact via streams, and in
object oriented programs, objects within an
application may need to interact via methods.
 User Interface
• The User Interface is a Component of a computer or
its software which can be visualized, heard, touched,
interacted and understood by the common people or
users of the computer.
The two main elements of the user interface are:
1. Input
2. Output
 Input:
• In an interaction with a computer the user provides
information to it.
• The data is received by the computer through input
devices like keyboard, mouse, trackball, a
person’s finger in case of touch-screens and a
persons voice in case of oral commands.
• The information is all about what the user wants
from the computer.
 Output:
• It is the processed information sent to the users as a
result of the desired function performed upon their
input.
• The output is displayed in such a way that the users
can view it with their eyes on the visual display
unit(Monitor), they can hear the voice or sound
through speakers.
• They can even make a copy of the information
provided to them with the help of printers.
 About User Interface:
• The Most important part of any Computer system is
the User Interface.
• This is because, it can be seen, it can be heard and it
can be touched by the users.
• The goals of interface design are simple, To make
working with a computer
easy,
productive and
enjoyable.
 Importance of User Interface:
• User Interface Design belongs to a field called
Human Computer Interaction.
• Human Computer Interaction is a technique that
deals with learning, thinking and designing of how
user and a computer communicate with each other.
• It supports the people in performing their task
easily/well.
• It can be used by different people possessing the
different capabilities
 Graphical User Interface:
• The Development of many new communication and
display techniques leads to a package known as
Graphical User Interface (GUI).
The GUI has the following features which are useful
to the users,
1. They help in product design through style guides.
2. They give instructions on how to update the design
software on time.
 World wide web (WWW)
• The World wide web (WWW) is an important
recent development in interactive computing.
• The web is built on the top of an internet and
provides a simple way of accessing the information
through Graphical Interfaces.
Hence,
Simplicity and easy access of the user interfaces by
the people has increased its importance and made it
very useful.
Now Let us Know

What is Good User Interface ?

What is Effective User Interface ?
 Good User Interface:
• It enables an easy and efficient way of interaction
b/w the user and a system.
• It also allows the users to perform their required
tasks easily.
• When a good interface is provided, the knowledge
related to the internal working of the computer
system will be of less concern to the users.
• Another way of demonstrating the importance of
Good User Interface Design is to show real benefits
in terms of money.
• For Business, Good User Interfaces possess the
following advantages,
– Higher Staff Productivity.
– Lower Staff turnover.
– Higher Staff Team spirit.
– Higher Job Satisfaction.

Economically, these advantages leads to /results in

lower operating costs.
 Effective User Interface:
• An effective user interface provides an easy and
simple interaction b/w a user and a system.
It possess the following characteristics:
1. Clear Interface
2. Consistent interface
3. Simple interface
4. User-Controlled Interface
5. Direct Interface
6. Forgiving
7. Provide Feedback
8. Aesthetic
Clear Interface:
Clarity is the most important element of user
interface design. 
This interface helps in preventing user errors.
Consistent Interface:
This interface applies the previously learned
knowledge in performing new tasks.

The Microsoft Office user interface is consistent for a reason.

 Simple Interface:
Usually, the designs of best interfaces are simple
because they are easy to learn, use used and also
provides a consistent appearance to the interface.

GoPlan's tabbed interface. Tabs are familiar because they mimic tabs on folders. You figure out that clicking on a tab will
navigate you to that section and that the rest of the tabs will remain there for further navigation.
 User-Controlled Interface:
All the operations of the interface are initiated and
controlled by the user itself.

Apple has identified three key things people want to do with photos on their iPhone, and provides
buttons to accomplish each of them in the photo controls.
 Direct Interface:
There is a direct relationship b/w the actions
performed by the user and the objects present on the
screen i.e.
when the user performs the actions, it will effect the
objects on the screen.
Hence,
users play an important role in performing the
computer activities.

The volume controls in OS X use little icons to show each side of the scale from low to high.
Forgiving:
The actions performed by the user should be
reversible.
The mistakes and errors made by the users must be
forgiven or prevented.
It can be done by exploration and trail and error
learning techniques.

Trashed the wrong email by mistake? Gmail lets you quickly undo your last action.
Provide Feedback:
After performing the task, an immediate feedback
must be given to the user.
An assurance about the appropriateness of the
feedback must also be provided.

Instead of gradually loading the page, Gmail shows a progress bar when you first go to your inbox.
This allows for the whole page to be shown instantly once everything is ready.
Aesthetic:

Every element of the screen must be displayed in a

pleasant manner so that it can have friendly
relationship with the users.
 Avoid Copying in exams

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