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Human-computer interaction (HCI) is the study of interaction between people ( users) and computers. It is an interdisciplinary field, relating computer science, psychology, cognitive science, human factors ( ergonomics), design, sociology, library and information science, artificial intelligence, and other fields.Interaction between users and computers occurs at the user interface (or simply interface), which includes both hardware (i.e. input and output devices) and software (e.g. determining which, and how, information is presented to the user on a screen).
1 Goals and Aspects of HCI
A basic goal of HCI is to improve interaction between user and computers, by making computers more user-friendlyUser-friendly is a term often used to describe software and other technologies. Its definition is subjective, depending on the user. Useful alternative terms are usability and accessibility, both from the field of human-computer interaction. Certain param and easier to use. More broadly, HCI is also concerned with
- methodologies and processes for designing interfaces (i.e., given a task and a class of users, design the best possible interface within given constraints, optimizing for a desired property such as learnability or efficiency of use)
- methods for implementing interfaces (e.g. software toolkits and librariesIn computer science, a library is a collection of subprograms used to develop software. Libraries are distinguished from executables in that they are not independent programs; rather, they are "helper" code that provides services to some other independent; efficient algorithmFlowcharts were often used to represent algorithms. An algorithm is a finite set of well-defined instructions for accomplishing some task which, given an initial state, will result in a corresponding recognisable end-state (contrast with heuristic). Algors)
- techniques for evaluating and comparing interfaces
- developing new interfaces and interaction techniques
- developing descriptive and predictive models and theories of interaction
A long term goal of HCI is to design computers that can be exploited to their fullest potential as instruments that enhance human creativity, liberate the human mind, and improve communication and cooperation between humans (see CSCW).
Professional practictioners in HCI are usually designers concerned with the practical application of design methodologies to real-world problems. Their work often revolves around designing graphical user interfaceA graphical user interface (or GUI pronounced "gooey") is a method of interacting with a computer through a metaphor of direct manipulation of graphical images and widgets in addition to text. GUIs and PUIs The precursor to GUIs was invented by researchers and web interfacesWeb design is the design or designing of a web page, website or web application. A brief history of web design When the internet was first invented, web design consisted of a very basic markup language that included some formatting options, and the unique.
Researchers in HCI are interested in devoloping new design methodologies, experimenting with new hardware devices, prototyping new software systems, exploring new paradigms for interaction, and developing models and theories.
2 Notes on Terminology
- HCI vs CHI. The acronym CHI (pronounced kai), for computer-human interaction, has been used to refer to this field, perhaps more frequently in the past than now. However, researchers and practitioners now refer to their field of study as HCI (pronounced aitch-see-eye), which perhaps rose in popularity partly because of the notion that the human, and the human's needs and time, should be considered first, and are more important than the machine's. This notion became increasingly relevant towards the end of the 20th century as computers became increasingly inexpensive (as did CPU time), small, and powerful.
- UsabilityUsability is the measure of how easily a thing can be used (typically a software application or a piece of hardware). This is generally defined in terms of the needs of the users of the thing. Often, the intentions of designers directly conflict with thes vs Usefulness. Design methodologies in HCI aim to create user interfaces that are usable, i.e. that can be operated with ease and efficiently. However, an even more basic requirement is that the user interface be useful, i.e. that it allow the user to complete relevant tasks.
- Intuitive and Natural. Software products are often touted by marketeers as being "intuitive" and "natural" to use, often simply because they have a graphical user interface. Many researchers in HCI view such claims as unfounded (e.g. a poorly designed GUI may be very unusable), and some object to the use of the words intuitive and natural as vague and/or misleading. For example, some may argue that input through handwriting is natural, while others counter that handwriting is a skill requiring years of training for children to acquire, and thus is very unnatural. Intuitiveness is probably best thought of as a relative notion, rather than being intrinsic to a user interface. Intuitiveness depends on the user's familiarity and previous experiences, and is subject to cultural and other biases. For example, an icon that looks like a garbage can (for deleting files) may be very mysterious looking to someone from a culture that doesn't store garbage in cans. Even a computer mouse and drag-and-drop actions are not intuitive to a user who has never seen or used them before. For more on this topic, see the article Intuitive Equals Familiar from Jef Raskin listed below.
