Human and Computer Interaction (H.C.I.) &Communication Skills Lecture (3) Prepared by Dr. Dunia Hamid Hameed

Guidelines for the HCI Approach to Systems Design Examine the task to be done and consider the fit among the human, computer, and task. Identify what obstacles exist for users in their attempts to accomplish their assigned tasks. Keep in mind the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use from TAM.

Consider usability. Examine the usage environment by creating use case scenarios that depict what is going on between users and the technology. Use the information you have gained beforehand to figure out the physical and organizational environmental characteristics. Design with prototyping to accommodate diverse users and users with disabilities.

Objectives of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) 1. Matching the user interface to the task. 2. Making the user interface efficient. 3. Providing appropriate feedback to users. 4. Generating usable queries. 5. Improving the productivity of computer users.

Types of User Interface The user interface has two main components: presentation language, which is the computer-to-human part of the transaction, and action language, which characterizes the human-to- computer portion. Together, both concepts cover the form and content of the term user Interface.

1- Natural Language Interfaces Natural-language interfaces are perhaps the dream and ideal of inexperienced users, because: They permit users to interact with the computer in their everyday, or natural, language. No special skills are required of the user, who interfaces with the computer using natural language.

The subtleties and irregularities residing in the ambiguities of English produce an extremely exacting and complex programming problem.

Natural-language interfaces.

2- Question-and-Answer Interfaces In a question-and-answer interface, the computer displays a question to the user on the display. To interact, the user enters an answer (via a keyboard stroke or a mouse click), and the computer then acts on that input information in a preprogrammed manner, typically by moving to the next question.

A type of question-and-answer interface called a dialog box. A dialog box interface

Examples Wizards used to install software are a common example of a question-and answer interface. Another common example is the use of the Office Assistant with Microsoft products.

3. Menus A menu interface provides the user with an onscreen list of available selections. Menus can be nested within one another to lead a user through options in a program.

Nested menus allow the screen to appear less cluttered, which is consistent with good design. They also allow users to avoid seeing menu options in which they have no interest. Nested menus can also move users quickly through the program.

A pull-down menu

GUI menus are used to control PC software and have the following guidelines: 1. The main menu bar is always displayed. 2. The main menu uses single words for menu items. Main menu options always display secondary pull-down menus. 3. The main menu should have secondary options grouped into similar sets of features. 4. The drop-down menus that display when a main menu item is clicked often consist of more than one word. 5. These secondary options perform actions or display additional menu items. 6. Menu items in grey are unavailable for the current activity.

An object menu, also called a pop-up menu. Experienced users may be irritated by nested menus. They may prefer to use a single-line command entry to speed things up. Other users might use the shortcut abbreviations or key combinations