Human Computer Interaction Lecture 1 Introduction

Aims Answer what is the significance of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Describe a formal definition of HCI. Brief overview of the topics that we will discuss in this course

Traditional Computers Era When computers first appeared on the commercial scene in the 1950s, they were extremely difficult to use, cumbersome. Reasons for this were: They were very large and expensive machines, so that by comparison human labor was an inexpensive resource. They were used only by technical specialists, due to which little was known about how to make them easier to use.

Computers are everywhere None of after mentioned conditions about computers holds today: computers have become much less expensive, computer users come from every walk of life. Traditional notion of computers has been changed. Computers are no more just on your table. They are everywhere, at everyplace and in everything. Look around yourself and you will see examples such as ATM, cell phone, remote control, calculator, watch, photocopier, toaster, air conditioner, medical equipment, VCR …. There is an endless list.

Computer invasion Now, just about everyone, young or old, able or disabled, skilled or unskilled, is using or is directly affected by computers in one way or another. It means that interaction with them is also increasing. What about if this interaction is difficult and cumbersome? Have you ever used a hammer whose head is not properly fitted into the arm?

Computer invasion (Cont.) Machines are leaking into every aspect of lives. So now the concept of life, without computer is same as concept of life without electricity, and obviously it is hard to live without electricity as well as with computer! Conclusion: Run for your lives---invasion has begun---the computers are invading.

Computer invasion… Ups and Downs As computers are penetrating in our daily life, it has some results. The bright side of this invasion is: Computers are enabling new discoveries Leading to efficiencies Making our life easy and convenient On the not so bright side the result is: Computers are annoying us (Really?). They even kill a few of us(What?).

Change your thinking about computers Computers annoy us, so in turn, we will be tempted to kill our computers; but we can’t live without computers. So we will have to think about them. We will have to think how we can make them better. We need to fundamentally rethink how human and machines interact. We will have rethink because the fault for our problems lies not with our machines, but with us.

Plane crash incidence In December 1995, American Airlines Flight 965 departed from Miami on a regularly scheduled trip to Cali, Columbia. While landing, the pilot needed to select the next radio navigation fix, named “ROZO”. Unfortunately, instead of “ROZO”, the pilot selected “ROMEO”, 132 miles to the northeast. The plain headed over to wrong direction, that is East.

Plane crash incidence (Cont.) Following indications on the flight computer, the pilots began an easterly turn and slammed into a granite peak at 10,000 feet. One hundred and fifty two passengers and all eight crewmembers on the plane died. Four passengers survived with serious injuries. What do you think about the reason for incidence???

Plane crash incidence (Cont.) It was due to the fact that computer indicated falsely when wrong navigation fix was selected. There should have been some mechanism to indicate that a wrong navigation fix has been selected. COMPUTERS MAY KILL US. So, change your thinking about the interaction of computers with humans.

Role of HCI Here comes the role of HCI. Human designed the interfaces that we may hate. Human continue to use machines even as the awkward interfaces annoy them. HCI plays a role to bridge up the gap between the interfaces of machines and human understanding.

Formal Definition of HCI “Human-Computer Interaction is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them” (ACM/IEEE)

Learning Goals Upon the successful completion of this course, you will be able to: Understand the importance and significance of human computer interaction Understand human characteristics and computer system characteristics affecting the human computer interaction. Understand how to design effective user interfaces Evaluate user interfaces with different techniques.

Main Topics Interaction devices Interaction paradigms Ergonomics User-Centered Design Approaches Requirements User Behavior Interfaces Designing Usability Principles Design Evaluation approaches

Main Topics Usability Testing Universal Design User Support Adaptive Help System Cognitive Models Task Analysis Groupware Ubiquitous Computing

Reference Material Human Computer Interaction (3rd Edition) By DIX, FINLAY, ABOWD, BEALE Lecture Slides provided by Instructor