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Human Computer
Interaction
LECTURE 1
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What is human-computer interaction?

 The study of interaction between people and computer-based

systems.
 Concerned with the physical, psychological and theoretical
aspects of this process.
 To enable us to design interactive products to support people
in their everyday and working lives
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User Interaction

 User interface design (UI) or user interface engineering is

the design of user interfaces for machines and software, such
as computers, home appliances, mobile devices, and
other electronic devices, with the focus on
maximizing usability and the user experience.
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About this course

 How to make a good (= usable) user interface for an

interactive application
 Why are usable user interfaces important?
 Nearly all applications have a user interface
 Bad interfaces are frustrating for the user and will influence the
productivity
 Competitors may have better systems
 Good user interface are hardly noticed, bad ones are!
 It is easier to make a bad interface than a good one.
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Goals of HCI

 Useful
• Accomplish what is required
• Play music, cook dinner, format a document
 Usable
• Do it easily and naturally
• Without danger of error
 Used
• Make people want to use it
• Be attractive, engaging, fun
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Manual Time Setting

 Alarm Clock
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Time Setting in Personal Computer

 DOS
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Time/Date setup in Windows
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Smart Phone Clocks
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History:Usage Evolution
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Image Courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eniac.jpg 5

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How do you think the users interacted with ENIAC?

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Importance of HCI

 The study of our interface with information.

 It is not just ‘how big should I make buttons’ or ‘how to

layout menu choices’.

 It can affect
• Effectiveness
• Productivity
• Safety
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Cont..

 There is a lot of design about that can cause problems for

users

 Good design involves understanding how users interact

with computers, and enabling them to do so effectively
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Example

 iPod by Apple Computers

 Pros:
• portable
• power
• ease of use
• # of controls
 Cons:
• scratches easily
• no speech for car use
• proprietary
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19 Don Norman’s Door Example

 Main Point: no one reads

manuals, so things should
be designed so that
manuals are not needed

 BTW what is wrong with

the kettle on the book
cover?
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20 Don Norman’s Door Example

A plate naturally says “ push me” and a handle naturally says

“pull me “
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 Thus HCI demands things to be designed in a

natural way, user should not wait for series of
commands unlike Dos commands to set time
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Some problematic designs
Trucker’s Example

 The makers of a GPS system for truckers observed that their system is
underutilized
 WHY??? What do you think
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Some problematic designs
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ATM Withdrawal Amount
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Bad Design is Costly

 Lets make up a realistic example

 Assume 50,000,000 Pakistani use ATMs, they use it 10 times
a month on average
 Time lost by a person due to entering 0’s is 5 sec each time
 Pakistani’s are losing 694,444 seconds or about 7 lac hours a
year!
 Each one of us is losing 5 hours from our life!
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How Interface be Designed

 You can design user interfaces that

• Are pleasant and convenient for your users
• Let them accomplish their goals
 The key:
• Think about your users
• Learn about them
• Watch them work, in their workplace
• Interview them, also in their workplace
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THANK YOU

Write a note on any interface with its qualities and

improvement suggestions!