HUMAN COMPUTER

INTERACTION
Human Computer Interaction (ITC-502)
Course Outlines
 The Human
 Computer and Interaction
 Usability paradigm and principles
 Introduction to design basics
 HCI in software process
 Design rules, prototyping, evaluation techniques, task analysis
 Universal design and User support
 Computer Supported Cooperative Work;
 Introduction to specialized topics such as Groupware,
pervasive and ubiquitous applications
Objectives of Course
 At the end of the course, you will be able to answer
following questions:
 What is HCI?
 What are the main computing environments in HCI?
 What are the best methods of analyzing interaction
paradigms?
 What are the main interaction paradigms?
 Develop an understanding of how human factors
influence the usability and effectiveness of
interactive systems.
 Learn principles and skills for design and evaluation
of interactive systems and Web based applications.
Objectives
 Innovation
 Computing Environments
 Analyzing Interaction Paradigms
 Interaction Paradigms
Definitions
 “HCI is the discipline concerned with the design,
evaluation, and implementation of interactive
computing systems” (Baecker et al. 1995)

 HCI is the study of interaction between people

(users) and computers.

 Human-computer interaction (HCI) is a

multidisciplinary field that combines perspectives
from computer science, psychology, and design in
order to understand how people interact with
technology, and how to design and build systems
to improve user interactions.
 What is HCI
 The study (and optimization) of how people use computers to
perform task.
 Useful
 Accomplish what is required
 Playing game, making breakfast, updating mobile software etc
 Usable
 Do it easily and naturally
 Without danger of error
 Used
 Make people want to use it
 Be attractive, engaging and fun
Components
 Humans interact with a computing system via a
human-computer interface. A human-computer
interface focuses in three main components
(Rees et a. 2001):
 The human
 The computing system (machine)
 The interaction

 HCI is critical in the development of software and

hardware systems

 Powerful application with many features is

discarded. Why?
HCI Specialist:
 Understand psychological,
organizational, and social factors of the
combined human and computer system

 Develop methodologies to aid

appropriate HCI design

 Realize efficient and effective

interactions for single users and groups
Innovation
 Memex (Vannevar Bush)

 OLIVER (Licklider)
 The Ultimate Display (Ivan Sutherland)
Foundations of HCI
 Psychology:
 Heuristics: Common sense, intelligent guess
 Cognition:
 Vision: Form, Shape, Color, Pattern, Models, Templates
and Motion
 Touch: Texture, Vibration and Temperature
 Hearing: Audio
 Smell: Fragrance

 Sociology:
 Behavior of people in a social group rather than as
an individual. Social norms and conventions. Effect
of social, ethnic and cultural factors.
Foundations of HCI
 Anthropology:
 Physical habits of human beings inherited
from the animal family

 Law:
 Legal and copyright considerations

 Environmental:
 Environmental considerations
Computing Environment
 To find creative solution, one must first
understand current technology and the
different ways people use computing
technologies
 HCI specialist needs to understand:
 Physical Computing Environment
 Social Computing Environment
 Cognitive Computing Environment
Computing Environment
(Contd…)
 Physical Computing Environment:
 Evolved from dumb terminal to
public/personal and fixed/mobile
configuration
 ATM: fixed and public
 PDA: mobile and personal

 Consider Ergonomics of the system

 Create safe computing environment
Computing Environment
(Contd…)
 Physical Computing Environment (Continued):
 Safety
 Efficiency
 User Space: Use system without discomfort
 Work Space: Must be able to bring work objects
(notebooks, PDA etc)
 Lighting : Ambient illumination
 Noise: High-level of environmental noise for auditory
interfaces, mobile information appliances (cell phones,
pagers etc)
 Pollution: factories and warehouses having dirty and
greasy machines. Use of plastic keyboard covers,
washable touch screens and auditory interfaces
Computing Environment
(Contd…)
 Social Computing Environment
 Collaborative system should support human-
human interaction
 Different computing paradigms imply different
social environments:
 Personal computing
 Ubiquitous computing

 Public computer should provide privacy

 Embarrassment on negative auditory feedbacks
 Provide adequate viewing and auditory
feedback for group members
Computing Environment
(Contd…)
 Cognitive Computing Environment:
 Issues involved are:
 Age: Animation for elders and technician and long list of
hyperlinks for children
 Condition Related to Disabilities
 Degree to Technical Knowledge: Systems specifically
designed for particular users with specific skills and
facilities
 Degree of Focus: People focused on specific task in hand.
Looking after heavy machinery in noisy environment v/s
playing games online
 Cognitive Stress: Computers are used in diverse
environment (listening music or air traffic control are
examples)
HCI Trend
Terms
 Information Space—Defined by the information artifacts used
and the content included, for example, a book and the topics
covered in the book

 Interaction Architecture—The structure of an interactive

system that describes the relationship and methods of
communication between the hardware and software components

 Interaction Mode—Refers to perceptual modalities, for

example, visual, auditory, or haptic (sometimes used in the
literature to refer to interaction styles or particular tasks such as
browsing or data entry)

 Interaction Paradigm—A model or pattern of human–computer

interaction that encompasses all aspects of interaction, including
physical, virtual, perceptual, and cognitive
Terms (contd…)
 Interaction Space—The abstract space defined by
complex computing devices such as displays,
sensors, actuators, and processors

 Interaction Style—The type of interface and the

interaction it implies, for example, command line,
graphical user interface (GUI), or speech

 Work Space—The place where people carry out

work-related activities, which may include virtual as
well as physical locations, as in, for example, flight
simulation training
Future
 The emerging synthesis of artificial intelligence
(AI) technologies with human-computer interface
(HCI) approaches to produce Human-Centered AI
(HCAI) is gaining widespread acceptance.
 HCAI researchers build on AI-driven technologies,
including generative AI, to design products and
services that make life better for the users.
 These human-centered products and services
enable people to better care for each other, build
sustainable communities, and restore the
environment.
Analyzing Interaction
Paradigm
 5W + H (Who, What, When, Where, Why and
How)
 5W+H heuristic to define existing interaction
paradigms, spaces, explore the elements and
objects with which user interacts
 Give understanding on how systems are built, and
 How to apply knowledge for future systems
 What/How: to understand the physical and virtual
interface components
 Where/When: related to physical environment
 Who/Why: types of tasks and still set required
Interaction Paradigms (IP)
 Large Scale Computing
 Personal Computing
 Networked Computing
 Mobile Computing
 Collaborative Environments
 Virtual Reality
 Augmented Reality
Interaction Paradigms (IP)
 Model or pattern of human-computer
interaction that encompasses all aspects
of interaction, including physical, virtual,
perceptual and cognitive
IP: Large Scale Computing Paradigm

 What/How:
 Include Mainframe computer accessed via dumb
terminals and Super computer

 When/Where:
 Large computers were owned by government
agencies and large institutes affiliated with
universities

 Who/Why:
 Computing resources are expensive and are used
to carry out government sponsored-research
projects and university based research project
IP: Personal Computing
 Douglas Engelbart + other researchers
at ARC
 Computers made available to people
with little or no technical background
 Alto was 1st GUI based computer (Popup-
menus, icons and Windows) developed
at Xerox PARC in 1973 and had a great
influence from NLS (ARC)
 Apple lisa, Macs and Windows use
similar concept
 Personal Computing Paradigm (Desktop)
IP: Personal Computing
(contd…)
 Desktop:
 What/How:
 Computer with keyboard, pointing device, software
application and internet based resources
 Permanent Media: CDs, DVDs and BlueRay
 Portable Hard drive: USB

 Where/When:
 Desktop PCs are available for home, office use and
entertainment

 Who/Why:
 Office environment (word, excel and presentation), computer
games, E-Commerce and banking application etc
 Modern PCs are as powerful as Large Scale computers
IP: Personal Computing
(contd…)
 Public Computing Paradigm
 ATM machines, mall directories, electronic
advertisements etc
 What/How:
 Implemented using PC desktop with security that prevent
access to operating system functions and protect against
viruses

 Where/When:
 Indoor and outdoor installations like government offices,
banks, malls and theaters

 Who/Why:
 Access public information, public services and conduct
financial transactions for banking and payments
Networked Computing
 Personal Computing architecture is suitable for
home users but not for office users
 What/How:
 Network differ in scope (PAN, LAN, MAN and WAN)
 Almost same What/How of PC

 Where/When:
 New concept of place, distance and time
 Time constraint has been altered and “when” is now
more flexible

 Who/Why:
 People from all backgrounds and ages are using the
internet in daily life.
Mobile Computing Paradigm
 What/How:
 Laptops, Tablets, Game Players, MP3 Players, PDAs,
Wearable Computers and Cell Phone

 Where/When:
 No need to be at specific location
 Wi-Fi internet access is available at most public places
 Situational computing using Location-based Mobile
Services (LMS)

 Who/Why:
 Business: access email and databases away from offices
 Other e.gs: E-Commerce, Health Care, Entertainment etc
Collaborative Environment Paradigm

 Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC): How

computers can be used to support group collaboration

 Groupware is CMC allows remote interaction using:

 Synchronous: video conferencing and instant messaging
 Asynchronous: E-mail, Bulletin Board and Discussion Board

 Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)

describe technology that support people who work in
group
Collaborative Environment Paradigm

 What/How:
 CMC involves networked PCs with desktop
environment, optional audio, video devices and large
projected displays

 Where/When:
 Different configurations: same or different place/time
scenario with various groupware applications and
devices

 Who/Why:
 Business with remote customers, educational institutes