Republic of The Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cauayan, Campus
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION 2
Module 3
REMIE-BIE D. ANDRES, DIT
Subject Prof.
Task Analysis and Modeling in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
I. Introduction
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) - is the study of how people interact with computers
and to design technologies that let humans interact with computers in novel ways.
Importance of HCI: HCI is critical for creating user-friendly and efficient interfaces,
improving user satisfaction, and minimizing errors.
II. Task Analysis
A. What is Task Analysis?
Task analysis - is the process of examining how users perform tasks to understand their
goals, actions, and needs in interacting with a system.
Purpose: Task analysis helps in designing systems that are more user-centered and
focused on achieving user goals efficiently.
B. Types of Task Analysis
Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA)
1. Breaks down tasks into sub-tasks and shows their relationships.
2. Useful for understanding complex tasks.
3. Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA)
4. Focuses on mental processes and decision-making involved in tasks.
5. Helps in designing systems that support cognitive activities.
6. User Task Analysis
7. Examines how a specific user or group of users perform tasks.
8. Helps tailor designs to specific user needs.
Republic of The Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cauayan, Campus
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION 2
Module 3
REMIE-BIE D. ANDRES, DIT
Subject Prof.
C. Steps in Task Analysis
Identify Tasks: Identify the tasks the user needs to accomplish when interacting
with the system.
Collect Data: Gather data through methods such as interviews, observations, and
questionnaires.
Analyze Data: Examine the collected data to identify patterns, goals, and sub-
tasks.
Create Task Models: Create visual representations of the tasks, such as flowcharts
or diagrams.
Validate Models: Ensure the accuracy of the task models by testing them with
users.
III. Modeling in HCI
A. What is Modeling?
Modeling - involves creating representations or abstractions of systems, users, or tasks
to understand, simulate, and improve the interaction.
Types of Models:
User Models: Represent characteristics, behaviors, and preferences of users.
Task Models: Describe how users perform tasks within the system.
System Models: Depict the system's architecture and behavior.
Mental Models: Reflect users' understanding of how the system works.
B. Benefits of Modeling
Predictive Power: Models can predict how users will interact with a system.
Design Improvement: Models can be used to identify design flaws early in the
development process.
Communication Tool: Models facilitate communication between designers,
developers, and stakeholders.
Republic of The Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cauayan, Campus
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION 2
Module 3
REMIE-BIE D. ANDRES, DIT
Subject Prof.
C. Types of Modeling
User-Centered Design (UCD)
Focuses on understanding user needs and preferences to design systems that
meet their requirements.
Employs user and task models.
GOMS (Goals, Operators, Methods, Selection rules)
A modeling technique to analyze task performance by breaking it down into
subtasks, operators, and methods.
Helps in estimating task completion times and error rates.
Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERD)
Used to model data and its relationships in database systems.
Helps in designing information structures in HCI.
IV. Conclusion
Task analysis and modeling are essential components of HCI, ensuring that systems are
designed with users in mind.
By understanding how users interact with technology and creating accurate models, HCI
professionals can improve user satisfaction, system efficiency, and overall usability.
