Kombolcha Institute of

Technology
College of Informatics
Department of
Information Technology
Course Title: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Course Code: ITec4122

Chapter 1
Introduction to Human-
Computer Interaction (HCI)

Instructor : Habtamu Abate

Email: habate999@gmail.com

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 1

 Agenda

 Definition of HCI
 Goal of HCI
 History of HCI
 Key people, events and ideas in HCI
 HCI’s Factors
 HCI’s impact on society

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 2

 What is Human-Computer Interaction
(HCI)?
 is a multidisciplinary field of study focusing on the
design of computer technology and, in particular,
the interaction between humans (the users) and
computers.
 While initially concerned with computers, HCI has since
expanded to cover almost all forms of information
technology design.
 is the study of how people interact with computers
and to what extent computers are or are not
developed for successful interaction with human
beings.
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 3
 HCI As Multidisciplinary
 Human Computer Interface (HCI) was previously known as the
man-machine studies or man-machine interaction.
 It deals with the design, execution and assessment of computer
systems and related phenomenon that are for human use.

 "HCI is concerned with understanding the influence

technology has on how people think, value, feel, and relate
and using this understanding to inform technology design."
Wright & McCarthy (2008)
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 Disciplines contributing to HCI
 Some of the main disciplines which have contributed to HCI are:
 Computer Science/IT
 Technology
 software design, development & maintenance

 User Interface Management Systems (UIMS) & User Interface

Development Environments (UIDE)
 prototyping tools

 graphics

 Social Psychology
 Social & organizational structures
 Ergonomics/Human Factors
 Hardware design
 display readability

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 5

 Disciplines contributing to HCI
 Cognitive Psychology
• information processing
• capabilities
• limitations
• cooperative working
• performance prediction

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 Disciplines contributing to HCI
Linguistics
 Natural language interfaces
Artificial Intelligence
 Intelligent software
Engineering & Design
– graphic design
– engineering principles

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 Goal of HCI
Usability
 A usable system is easy to learn, easy to
remember how to use, effective, efficient,
safe, and enjoyable to use.
 Usability is only one part of HCI, but has been one
of the main goals
 For example, HCI has contributed to the
development of guidelines and standards
that support designers.
 HCI has also developed methods of
evaluation that help us to evaluate the usability
of a given product/system (and other aspects of
the user experience) 8
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI
 HCI != Usability
 In addition, HCI uses mathematical models
to predict users’ performance with a
system.
 Example: Fitt’s law to predict mouse
movement time, or models that predict search
time or mental effort)
 HCI also investigates new interaction
paradigms or new ways of integrating
technology in our daily lives (touch
displays, VR/AR, Voice-based interfaces .. )
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 9
 Why do we do HCI in IT?
 Understanding how and why human interaction breaks
down is fundamental to designing better computing
systems.
 The intention of HCI is to learn the ways of designing
user-friendly interfaces or interactions.
 Considering which, HCI Focus on the following −
 Ways to design and assess interactive systems.
 Ways to reduce design time through cognitive
system and task models.
 Procedures and heuristics for interactive system
design.

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 10

 HCI is an extension of traditional IT disciplines

 We design, scale, and evaluate computing systems for

particular tasks (e.g., parallel programming, network
routing).
 HCI incorporates humans into the computing system.
 Humans as an additional constraint
 Any computer system must be designed taking into
account :
 The physical constraints of the machine (e.g., processor speed,
networking capabilities).
 The human physical and mental constraints (e.g., attention,
memory)
 (should we add, social level constraints?).

11
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI
 Historical Evolution
 From the initial computers performing batch processing to
the user-centric design, there were several milestones
which are mentioned below −
 Early computer (e.g. ENIAC, 1946) − Improvement in
the H/W technology brought massive increase in
computing power. People started thinking on innovative
ideas.
 Visual Display Unit (1950s) − SAGE (semi-automatic
ground environment), an air defense system of the USA
used the earliest version of VDU.
 Development of the Sketchpad (1962) − Ivan
Sutherland developed Sketchpad and proved that
computer can be used for more than data processing.
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 12
 Historical Evolution
 Douglas Engelbart introduced the idea of
programming toolkits (1963) − Smaller systems
created larger systems and components.
 Introduction of Word Processor, Mouse (1968) −
Design of NLS (oNLine System).
 Introduction of personal computer Dynabook
(1970s) − Developed smalltalk at Xerox PARC.
 Windows and WIMP interfaces − Simultaneous jobs at
one desktop, switching between work and screens,
sequential interaction.
 The idea of metaphor − Xerox star and alto were the
first systems to use the concept of metaphors, which led to
spontaneity of the interface.
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 13
 Historical Evolution
 Direct Manipulation introduced by Ben
Shneiderman (1982) − First used in Apple Mac PC
(1984) that reduced the chances for syntactic errors.
 Vannevar Bush introduced Hypertext (1945) − To
denote the non-linear structure of text.
 Multimodality (late 1980s).
 Computer Supported Cooperative Work (1990’s) −
Computer mediated communication.
 WWW (1989) − The first graphical browser (Mosaic)
came in 1993.
 Ubiquitous Computing − Currently the most active
research area in HCI. Sensor based/context aware
computing also known as pervasive computing.
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 14
 Factors in HCI
 There are a large number of factors which should be
considered in the analysis and design of a system using
HCI principles.
 The main factors are:
 Organization Factors
• Training, job design, politics, roles, work organization
• Environmental Factors
• Noise, heating, lighting, ventilation
• Health and Safety Factors

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 15

 Factors in HCI
 The User
 Cognitive processes and capabilities

 Motivation, enjoyment, satisfaction, personality,

experience
 Comfort Factors

 Seating, equipment, layout.

 User Interface
 Input devices, output devices,
 dialogue structures, user support, multimedia,
 use of colour, icons, commands, navigation, graphics,
natural language.
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 16
 Factors in HCI
 Task Factors:
 Easy, complex, novel, task allocation, monitoring,
skills
 Constraints:
 Cost, timescales, budgets, staff, equipment, buildings
System
 Functionality:
 Hardware, software, application
 Productivity Factors:
 Increase output, increase quality, decrease costs,
decrease errors, increase innovation

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 17

 HCI’s impact on society
 We can now use computers as an
every-moment- partner.
 Less and less training is required for
most application and devices.
 Some examples
 Touch screen: direct interaction with
objects.
 Voice control: for some people the only
way to interact with computers.

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 18

 HCI’s impact on culture
 Smartphones have changed how we spend
our "empty times": should we read the
news? answer emails? chat with friends?
play "2 Dots"? should we just be bored?
 Social Media have influenced how we stay
in touch with each other and how find new
friends and lovers.
 Games, more than entertainment, can be
used as social and even productive tools.
Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 19
 HCI’s impact on economy
 Massive increase in productivity.
 HCI found how to speed up input and
reduce its complexity.
 People can perform tasks faster than they
used to.
 Reduced need for training.
 More people can use technology than ever
before…

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 20

 Discussion Time (5 min)

 Discuss Negative impact of HCI and possible

Solution on :
I. Culture
II. economy
III. political

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 21

Society as the Web platform

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 22

 Question?

Next Lecture
Chapter2
Human in HCI

Chapter 1 Introduction to HCI 23