Human Computer Interaction: An Introduction
Dr. Tanvir Orakzai
August 16, 2007
The study of HCI includes the interaction between users and computers or systems that may occur at software or hardware level. The user interface definition is much broader than the normal definition. It deals with the following important issues;
To match the tasks of the users
Controlling/changing the user behavior
Navigating within the screen and user
Integration among various applications
People use computer and machines for various reasons with their level of understanding. Normally people are accommodating to understand the machines and its way of working; however sometimes, the machines or systems have design faults; which can range from complexity of operation to poorly designed interface leading to various problem in interaction between man and machine. It is for this reason that user centered designed are vital part of modern machines.
Looking at the variety of products today; it is clear that there is a wide gap between users and designers. For example the market is flooded with countless mobile phones, but few phones are really user friendly. Bluetooth technology is common in many mobile phones, but few people really understand, how to use blue tooth; and what are its implications. In many cases older users don’t know; how easily they can be hacked.
In other example of poor design can be Internet explorer in PDA phones; where a user has to move screen up and down to see a web page. As the mobile phone screen is too small, the designer came up with page moving tool; however it looks funny to scroll up and down just to see a page. A good approach would have been to custom design web pages for mobile devices rather than offering full range internet explorer based websites that are too complex for small screens. On the contrary there is Nokia mobile phone that can be considered a classic example of user-friendly interface. All Nokia phones have bigger icons that make it easy to comprehend its interface. It is for this reason that Nokia phone is the most favorite phone among older and less educated people.
Human beings make choices, some times these decisions create situation outside their control. Imagine a situation, where a user wish to shop online; he has to fill a lengthy form; but as he presses the submit button; the computer hangs (as used to happen in the earlier version of Internet explorer). Such experiences create negative perception of online shopping leading the shoppers to give-up online shopping due to operating systems or software related problems. Such kinds of problems arise due to poorly programmed interface that creates frustration for web users. Even though in current online shopping model; this problem has been fixed (by interface designer and programmers) the result is rise of online sales in the past few years.
The HCI arises out of human interaction with the machine/computer/system. For designer to create an interactive and user friendly system; it is vital to understand man machine interaction. For example, in mental problem; the user interacts with computer when he/she receives a feedback from the system; that allows him to develop the representation of the system (how the system works). This mental model incorporates the goals of the users and system output expectations in response to user’s actions. The role of designer in such situation is to increase the usability interface by designing the interface that is consistent with the other interfaces. Only this will allow the users to find the system functions friendly and interact in a hassle free way with the machine.
I t is clear that a good interface is vital to communicate with machine. In order to come up with a successful design; the designers need to understand various issues, such as how people communicate with machines, systems and applications. How much users are capable of running the system successfully. How people are adapting the new technology. The friendly interface can have many benefits. For example friendly computer software can help in saving a lot of time; while an unfriendly not only wastes time; but it can also create problems as happened in recent voting in US. In 21st century, man is moving from generic computing to automation of various devices, which makes it essential for computer engineers and designers to come up with such devices that can interact in user-friendly manner with users and make them easy to use by people of all ages.
To match the tasks of the users
Controlling/changing the user behavior
Navigating within the screen and user
Integration among various applications
People use computer and machines for various reasons with their level of understanding. Normally people are accommodating to understand the machines and its way of working; however sometimes, the machines or systems have design faults; which can range from complexity of operation to poorly designed interface leading to various problem in interaction between man and machine. It is for this reason that user centered designed are vital part of modern machines.
Looking at the variety of products today; it is clear that there is a wide gap between users and designers. For example the market is flooded with countless mobile phones, but few phones are really user friendly. Bluetooth technology is common in many mobile phones, but few people really understand, how to use blue tooth; and what are its implications. In many cases older users don’t know; how easily they can be hacked.
In other example of poor design can be Internet explorer in PDA phones; where a user has to move screen up and down to see a web page. As the mobile phone screen is too small, the designer came up with page moving tool; however it looks funny to scroll up and down just to see a page. A good approach would have been to custom design web pages for mobile devices rather than offering full range internet explorer based websites that are too complex for small screens. On the contrary there is Nokia mobile phone that can be considered a classic example of user-friendly interface. All Nokia phones have bigger icons that make it easy to comprehend its interface. It is for this reason that Nokia phone is the most favorite phone among older and less educated people.
Human beings make choices, some times these decisions create situation outside their control. Imagine a situation, where a user wish to shop online; he has to fill a lengthy form; but as he presses the submit button; the computer hangs (as used to happen in the earlier version of Internet explorer). Such experiences create negative perception of online shopping leading the shoppers to give-up online shopping due to operating systems or software related problems. Such kinds of problems arise due to poorly programmed interface that creates frustration for web users. Even though in current online shopping model; this problem has been fixed (by interface designer and programmers) the result is rise of online sales in the past few years.
The HCI arises out of human interaction with the machine/computer/system. For designer to create an interactive and user friendly system; it is vital to understand man machine interaction. For example, in mental problem; the user interacts with computer when he/she receives a feedback from the system; that allows him to develop the representation of the system (how the system works). This mental model incorporates the goals of the users and system output expectations in response to user’s actions. The role of designer in such situation is to increase the usability interface by designing the interface that is consistent with the other interfaces. Only this will allow the users to find the system functions friendly and interact in a hassle free way with the machine.
I t is clear that a good interface is vital to communicate with machine. In order to come up with a successful design; the designers need to understand various issues, such as how people communicate with machines, systems and applications. How much users are capable of running the system successfully. How people are adapting the new technology. The friendly interface can have many benefits. For example friendly computer software can help in saving a lot of time; while an unfriendly not only wastes time; but it can also create problems as happened in recent voting in US. In 21st century, man is moving from generic computing to automation of various devices, which makes it essential for computer engineers and designers to come up with such devices that can interact in user-friendly manner with users and make them easy to use by people of all ages.
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