5UNIT

Software Tools

CONTENTS
Part-1 Software Tools: Specification . 5-2G to 5-5G
Methods, Interface Building Tools
Part-2 : Interaction Devices, Keyboard. 5-5G to 5-8G
and Function Keys
Part-3 : Pointing Devices 5-8G to 5-10G
Part-4 Speech Recognition, Digitization 5-10G to 5-12G
andGeneration
Part-5 Image and Video Displays,.. 5-12G to 5-14G
Drivers

5-1G (CS/IT-Sem-7)
 Questions-Answers
Long Answer Type and Medium Answer ype
Questions
Que 5.1. What is software tool ? What are the commo.
tools in human computer interface ? used
Answer
A software tool is programmatiC software used to
create, maintain
otherwise support other programs and applications. Some of the com
used software toolsin HCI are as follows: mmonly
1. Specification methods: The methods used to specify the GUI. These
e
are lengthy and ambiguous methods, but easy to understand.
2. Grammars : These are written instructions or
expressions that a
program would understand. They provide confirmations for
and correctness. completeness
3. Transition diagramn: These are set of nodes and links that
can bein
displayed in text, link frequency, state diagram, etc. They are difficult
evaluating usability, visibility, modularity and synchronization.
Statecharts: Chart methods developed for simultaneous user
and external actions. activites
They provide link-specification with intertace
building tools.
5. Interface building tools: Design methods that help in
command languages, design
data-entry structures, and widgets.
6. Interface mockup tools: Tools to
develop a quick sketch of G0L.
example, Visual Studio .Net, etc.
7. Software engineering tools: Extensive tools to provide
user interface
programming
ing tools
management system.
8. Evaluation tools: Tools to evaluate the s s a n d completeness

of programs. correctness ana

Que 5.2.Explain specification method.

Answer
designer
1. The default
natural
language used for specifications in any field iffcation
field
peis the
cifications ar

language, such as English, and the initial

generally drawn up on a sketchpad or blackboard. sp
 t e r Interface 5-3G (CS/AT-Sem-7)
H u m a n C o m p u t e r

But natural-language specificatio tend to be lengthy, vague, and

ambiguous, and therefore often are difficult to prove correct, consistent,
2
or complete.

mal and
Formal and semi-formal languages have proved their value in many
reas, including mathematics, physics, circuit design, music, and even
knitting
Formal languages have a specified grammar, and effective procedures
4 exist to determine whether a string adheres to the languages.
Various specification methods

1. Grammars:

Grammars are useful to specify textual commands or expressions

i
that a program should understand.
They were necessary with older terminal-based interfaces and are
still used on interactive systems that need powerful and extensible
symbolic expressions.
ii. Grammars are also useful to verify the validity of stereotypical
computer forms filled in by users, such as telephone-book entries.
iv. In computer programming, Backus-Naur form (BNF), also called
Backus normal form, is often used to describe programming

languages.
v.High-level components are described by non-terminals, and specific
strings are terminals.
2 Menu-selection and dialog-box trees:
A menu-selection tree has a simple structure that guides designers
and users alike, making it an excellent selection style for many

applications.
in the construction
Specification methods include online tools to help
enable designers and
of menu trees and simple drawing tools that
users to see the entire tree at one time.

3. Transition diagram:
states
Transition diagram has a set of nodes that represent systenm
and a set of links between the nodes that represent possible
transitions.
Each link is labeled with the user action that selects that link and
possible computer responses.
4. Statecharts:
interfaces.
Statecharts have several virtues in specifying
Because a grouping feature is offered through nested roundtangles
to the surrounding
transitions can be factored out
repeated
as concurrency,
roundtangle. Extensions to statecharts-such
in logix's
external interrupt events, and user actions-are represented
Statemate, which is a user-interface tool.
 64G (CSAT-Sem-7)
Software
i n t e r f a c e uildingtools inedetail.
b u i l d i n g too

Describe

Que6.3.
A n s w e r

Interface building tools:

a r e importa
important for the design ofcomponen

sequences, and sofa

are

-entry
methods

languages,
data-
widgets.
Specification

1. mand
comm ana
suchi .is
ms drawn orprintedo paper are an excellen
system,
2 Sereen-transition diagrams

an
overview
of the system.
means of providing a r c h i t e c t s , designers,
mana

allow
user-intertace

. table, discuss the

1sers, and
3 They to sit a r o u n dla desig and
softwareengineers prepare
that lies ahead.
for the bigjob
but the detailed
designs are a great way start,
to snond

3. Paper-based software tools such ication

user. interfaces requires as
of complete
tools:
a. Interface mockup
i. User interface architects recognize that ereating quick sketches is
important during the early stages of design to explore multiple
alternatives, to allow communication wit hin the design
to convey to clients what the product will look
team, and
like.
i. Userinterface mockups can be created with
paper and pencil, word
processors, or slide show
presentation software (such as Microsoft
PowerPoint or Apple Keynote).
i. Resourceful designers have also
with multimedia built user-interface
construction tools, such as prototypes
V. These
programs can quickly
Dreamweaver.
programs and be generate animated or even interactive
b. distributed via the Web.
Software engineering toolss:
Experienced programmers sómetimes
general-purposes
C++, but this programming build user
interfaces
approach languages
specially tuned to user-in giving way
is such as Java, , or

i. wa to using facilities that are

Choosing -interface
due to the among them is developmnen and web access.
lack of
and their features. uniformsometimes a complex and confusingt
Sometimes a
c.
The termino
nology used to describe the tools
windowing system
Some
the layer:
platforms are too new to
software
Tesources suchengineer to
offer
high
low level
work at aaevel level.building tools, forcing
Only some aphics
i. iAlnttehractoughively at thisicons,
as work at

level. images, cursors, be edite

are
being better tools * nts can

created o0.
phones shala are
too. being «
Intert created every day,
ntlyInterfaces
new platforn
el
be done for some
mobile
ile device
o rcell
at the ystem level.
windo
Human Computer Interface 5-5 G (CS/IT-Sem-7)

layer:
ATheGUI toolkit
Mast products provide user interface program libraries called GUI
toolkits that offer common widgets, such as windows, scroll bars,
pull-down or pop-up menus, data-entry fields, buttons, and dialog
boxes.
Programming languages with accompanying libraries are familiar
.
to experienced programmers and afford great flexibility.
ii However, toolkits without interactive support can become complex
and the programming environments for those, such as the Microsoft
Windows Forms, Apple Macintosh Toolkit, and Unix XToolkit (Xtk,
require months of learning for programmers to gain proficiency.
iv. Even then, the burden in creating applications is great, and
maintenance is difficult.

Que 64. What are the features of interface building tools ?

Answer
Features of user interface building tools:
i User interface independence:
1. Separate interface design from internals
2. Enable multiple user interface strategies
3. Enable multiple platform support
4. Establish role of user interface architect
5. Enforce standards
ii.
Methodology and notation
1. Develop design procedures
2 Find ways to talk about design
3. Create project management
ii. Rapid prototyping:
1. Try out ideas very early
2. Test, revise, test, revise
3.Engage end users, managers, and customers
iv. Software support:

Increase productivity
2.Offerconstraint and consistency checks
3 Facilitate team
approaches
Ease maintenance

PART2
nteraction Devices, Keyboard and Function Keys.
 Software Tools
5-6G (CS/IT-Sem-7)

Questions-Answers

Type
Medium Answer Type Questions
Answer
M e d i u m

and
1ype
Answer

Long

devices.
i n t e r a c t i o n

5.5.Explain

Que www

Answer used for the.human computer inte tion.

devices a r e
interactive and some are recently eveloped or are a
tools and
Several known
are
Some of them in the
future.
developed
concept to be
Touchscreen
1 allowing the point and select
user to
Touchscreens is the method of
1 are much more direct than tha
objects on the screen, but they
the user's finger, or a stylus
they detect the presence of
mouse, as
on the screen itself.

i. They work in one of a number of different ways by the finger

(or stylus) interrupting a matrix of light beams, or by capacitance
changes on agrid overlaying the screen, or by ultrasonic reflections.
i. Because the user indicates exactly which item is required by pointing
to it, no mapping is required and therefore this is a direct device.
iv. The touchscreen is very fast, and requires no specialized pointing
device. It is especially good for selecting items from menus displayed
on the screen.
2 Gesture recognition:
i.
Gesture recognition is a subject in language technology that
the
objective of understanding human movement via ia
procedures. mathemau
.
Tew
S
human andtechnology magnitudes an advanced association De veen
computer where no
This new interactive device mechanical devices aredevices
1. sed.
u lik
keyboards might
heavy on newterminate
3. Speech and is also
recognition: the
o
i.
devices like touch screens.
tOue
The
technology
speech of
recognition.transcribing spoken text s
into written
.
phrases in
Suchtechnologies
Such switchi can be used
such as
n De
ii. This
This HCI switching in advanced
on
and off the advanced
controi of many dev
control
device help the
he user
electrical appliances.
uction based in hands free movement and kee

technology uphands
ma
to ire witn the
to date
date with uset h e users.
 Computer Interface 5-7G (CS/IT-Sem-7)

Keyboard:
keyboard can be nsidered as a primitive device known to all of
us.
Keyboard uses an organization of keys/buttons that serves as a
echanical device for a computer. Each key in a
keyboard
oa single written symbol or character.
corresponds to.
and ancient interactive device between
This is the most
nan and machine
effective
that has given ideas to develop many more
interactive devices as well as has made advancements in itself such
soft screen boards for computers and mobile phones.
as
6 Response time:

Response time is the time taken by a device to respond to a request.

i.
The request can be anything from a database query to loading a
web page.
the of the service time and wait time.
The response time is
sum
ii
Transmission time becomes a part of the response time when the
to travel over a network.
response has

Que 5.6. Describe keyboard and function keys.

wwws

Answerww.x

Keyboards:
most common input devices in use today.
1. The keyboard is still one of the
and commands.
2 It is used for entering textual data standardized layout, and are
3. The vast majority of keyboards have a
known by the first six letters of the top row
of alphabetical keys,
QWERTY is fixed, but
4The layout of the digits and letters on a QWERTY keyboard
non-alphanumeric keys vary between keyboards.
.The QWERTY arrangement of keys is not optimal
for typing, however.
traced
in this fashion can be
he reason for the layout of the keyboard
back to the days of mechanical typewriters.
the computer keyboard are not subject
n e electric typewriter and now
to the original mechanical constraints, ut the QWERTY keyboard
remains the dominant layout.
which would all
nere large investment in current keyboards,
is also a
phased out, with the subsequent
Ve to be either replaced at great cost, or on both keyboards.
rement for people to be proficient
Function keys:
1 A function key is a key on the uter keyboard which can be
to pertorm
m e d so as to cause an operating system program
certain actions.
 5 - 8 G ( C S T - S e m - 7 )
Software Tools
the top of our keyb
arranged
at the rd number
commonly referre
are
keys as F
2.
The
function

F1 to
F12 and
are
keys or FN
from

shortcuts for
keys. some
interesting on computer
provide
useful tools
in eeveryday computing.
The keys c a n be
3. that
functions
used in combin bination with other k
are
frequently
the SHIFT kev. such:as
The keys and
4.
key, the ALT key,
CTRL
the
keys in Windows
Some
common
uses for function
F1:Display helpscreen.
i for renaming.
i F2:Highlight fileorfolder
tool.
ii F3:0pen search
window.
iv. Alt+F4: Close the current

V. F5:Refresh the contents of a

window or webpage.
vi. F8:Boot Windows into safe mode by holding F8 during startun

PART-3
Ponting levuces.
*********************

Questions-Answers
Long Answer Type and Medium Answer
Type Questions

Que 5.7Describe pointing devices

useful for and types of interaction tasks
pointing devices.
Answer
Fointing devices are
make important for small devices and
keyboards impractical large wall display that
Pointing devices are as
input devices.
1 useful for six
Select: Users choose from
types of interaction tas*
sks:
raditional menue selection,
marking, for
rom a set of
items. This technique is
use
for

example, part identification

ectory, or
2 a of a file in a
osition: Users choose
dimensional
in an
automobile design.
a
new space. point in one, two,
window, or toPositioning
a
two, three, or higher a
3.
Orient: drag mayy be used to create ing, to pa
ving, to place
Users choose a
block of text in a a

space. The a figurehigher-dimensiona

a direction direction may
device. of simply
motion, or control
directionin
aa two-, three-,
nply rotate aa symbol on the indicate

symbolo ou scree
the operation
OCne
ofa robot armoperation
H u m a nC o m p u t e rI n t e r f a 5-9 G (CSIT-Sem-7)

perform a series of positioning and orientation

rapidly
Users
Path :
The path may be realized as a curving line in a drawing
ram,
ions.
a character
to be recognized, or the instructions for a cloth-
machine.
other
cutingo ro t type of
numerie value. The quantify task is usually
& Quantify:.
ify:
Users specify a
tion of integer or real values to set parameters,
e-dimensionalselecti
number in a document, the velocity of a ship, or the
such
as the page sound.
amplitude of a
move, and edi text ina two-dimensional space. The
Users enter,
Text:U

device
location of an insertion, deletion, or change.
indicates th
inting
Point
of the text are more elaborate tasks,
manipulati
the simple
(boldface
setting margins and font sizes, highlighting
Beyond
cuch
su as centering,
underscore), and page
layout.
or

What are the types of pointing devices?

Que58.

Answer

can be grouped into:

Pointing devices such as the touchscreen or stylus,
surface,
Direct control on the
screen
i
and
surface, such as the mouse,
the
Indirect control away from
screen
i
or touchpad.
trackball, joystick, graphics tablet,
devices:
Direet control pointing
to a spot
device that enabled users to point
L Lightpen: The lightpen is a position, or
a button to perform a select,
on a screen and then press
other task.
and does not require picking up
2 Touchscreen: Touchscreen is robust
direct-control touches
an external device; instead, it
allows users to make
on the screen with a finger.
make
Tablet PCs and mobile devices
Tablet PCs and mobile devices: which can be held in the
arm or
to point on the LCD surface,
natural
hand, placed on a desk, or rested on the lap. and
attractive device
because it is familiar
y sThe stylus is a n the stylus tip to the
desired
for users, and users can guide
rable in view.
Ocation while keeping the whole context
Indirect control pointing device
low cost and wide availability.
e : The mouse is appealing because ofits
buttons on the mouse
are
easy
nand rests in a comfortable position,
the forearm, and
press, long motions can be done rapidly by moving movements.
can be done precisely with small finger
T
2Track
ackball:Trackball is a
stat
ball that mounted
movable
on top of
the
locations where
onary device. The gives an advantage goodfor
a use in design
and
around enough. It is widely
mo
move
manufannot
manufacturing industries.
 Software Tools
5-10G (CSIT-Sem-7
s
sa me
am e s tou
as chscreen, Dut
bu toue
T o u c h p a d
are
ightly
slightl

p r o v i d e d
space,
commonly

their s
so
r eor ouchpad
in their
rface, and
Touchpad: over
finger T.SUrfacele
3
be only
use
sliding the to chck
a n option.
can works by surtace
It the
in shape. finger
on
the
stick i
ssure sensitive small nub use
laptops. Pointing een th the keys on a laptor
stick: between
Pointing that
directing the stick
located

It is stic) with
joystick. the p o i n t e r by
Dy directing
like a control
H one
allows
the
to
user
in b e t w e e n
'G'. and key, and also at below
Commonly
found
finger.
the spacebar.

PART-4|
ana eneration
Speech Recognition, 1igiiz2atton
wwwwwwww**N*wwwwwww* *************** **********wwwwwwww***w...

uestions-Answers

Long Answer Type and Medium Answer ypeuestions.

Que 5.9. Explain speech recognitions.

Answer
w w we

For designers of human/computer interaction

technologies have atleast five variations systems, speech and audio
1 Discrete-word recognition:

i Discrete-word-recognition devices recognize individual words

spoken by specific
for 100 to
a
person; they can work with 90 to
10,000 word or larger 98% reliabingy
Speaker-dependent training, vocabularies.
i.
in which users
vOcabulary
yields
once or
twice, is á part of repeat full

the
higher accuracy than in many systems. Such ning
trau
elimination of
training speaker independen
ii.
applications. expands the of mercial
rcial
scope co"
Quiet
2.
choice
of environments,
Continuous-speech head-mounted microphone
vocabularies improve
recognition: es, and careful

HAL's ability to recognition rates

rates in both cases on m
to read
their lineunderstand the
to
thejir
sobering. lips was tand astronauts
astronauts'
a s antronauts' spoken
spoken
appealing fantasy, spoe
ar
words ana
words
even

Many research but the eality mo is

recognition, and projects havee

products lourished widespread pursued
eech

pursued continuous-s)
hop
during hope for com co mmercially ccessful

the
dot-com boom.
 nputer Interface
m a nC o m p u t e rI n t e r f a r

5-11 G(CS/IT-Sem-7)

onsumers ought the heavily promoted products, but exaggerated

i promises
led to much disappointment.
ictation products work but error rates and error repair are
ir.
Speech
Speech

serious problems.

ddition, the cognitive burdens of dictation interfere with planning

n sentence formation, often reducing the quality of documents
ands
sentence form.
composition.
when compared with typewritten
informationsystems:
Voice
s of the ihuman voice as a source of information and as a
The appeal
communication is strong.
basis for
used to provide telephone-based
Stored speech is commonly
tourist sites and government services, and for
information about
from organizations.
after-hours messages
information systems, often called Interactive Voice
These voice
provide good customer service at low cost if
Response (TVR), can
methods and metrics are used.
proper development
Speech generation:
generation is a technology with
successful widespread
iSpeech
i and on telephones.
application in c o n s u m e r products
reliable systems using digitized speech
i Inexpensive, compact, have been used in automobile
canned speech)
segments (also called
internet services utility-contirol rooms.
navigation systems,
Non-speech auditory interfaces:
include individual audio
i I naddition to speech, auditory outputs combinations
by
tone and more complex information presentation
of sound and music.
often refers to
Research on m o r e sophisticated presentations
interfaces.
sonification, audiolization, or auditory
that a message
bell tone to alert users
Early teletypes included a
out.
coming or that paper had
run
Was
indicate warnings
Iv. Later computer systems addedarange of tones to
of an action.
or to acknowledge the completion c a m e r a s are
built
as digital
.
heyboards and mobile devices such
feedback.
with electronically generated sound

and generation.
. Discuss speech digitization

.
AnsweT
Speech genera a r e usually
preferable
segments
neration and digitized speech in time, and
and short, deal with events
nessages are simple
res
require an immediate response.
 5 - 1 2 G( C S I T - S e m - 7
Softwaree'Tools
to iu s e r s
when their visual channels
becomes
a d v a n t a g e o u s

be
are
free to move around or when the

2.
Speech when they must too poorly lit, subject to severe vibrat:e
overloaded;
brightly
environment
is too visual displays.
unsuitable
for
otherwise
Telephone-based
or
information systems may mix digitized spes
voice i n f o r m a t i o

to allow appropriate emotionech

ration to.
generation

3 and speech presentation.

segments information

and
current

based
keypad sele
on
elections and limite speech recognition
Applications (Fidelity
(Fidei Automated Service Telephon
4 applications
banking ine schedules (Indian Airlines
and airline
includes

or FAST),
phone
directories, Dial
AA- Flight).
makes these services attractiva ut
The ubiquity of telephones speed of web-based visual
an
5. of users prefer the
increasing number
inquiries.

PART-5

Image and Video Displays, Drivers.

Questions-Answers

Long Answer Type and Medium Answer Type Questions

Que 5.11. Describe image and video

displays.
Answer
Image and video displays:
Visual display unit (VDU) has become the
the user from
the primary source of feedback
computer. Inmportant features, of
i
Rapid operation are VDU
Reasonable size
ii. Reasonable resolution
iv. Quiet operation
V.
No paper waste
vi.
Relatively
vii. Reliability low cost
vii. Highlighting
ix.
2. For Graphics and
certain animation
applications,
attractive because of monochrome
nonochrome displays are

their low cost. Color displays are adequaae are

displays cca et
cost. make vide08
 Interface
H u m a nC o m p u t e rI n t e r t
5-13 G (CS/IT-Sem-7

ational simulations, CAD and many other applications more

fective
attractive and effe for users
isplaytechnologies include:

i C R T

CRTis a n
evacuated glass tube equipped with various components.
1. Aheam of electrons (cathode rays), emitted by an electron gun,
A
2 ses throughfocusing and deflection systems hits on the phosphor
the desired picture.
screen to generate
coated
aThe high speed
electrons hit the phosphor coated screen to produce
controlled by a video controller.
a spot of light
i Plasma panel:
are constructed
a. Plasma panels, also called gas discharge displays,
with mixture of
between two glass plates a
by filling the region
includes n e o n .
gases that usually
ribbons is placed on one glass panel
b. A series of vertical conducting
built into the other glass panel.
and a set of horizontal ribbons is
(LCDs):
ii.Liquid Crystal Displays picture by passing
LCDs are non-emissive
devices which produce a
a
of a n internal light source

polarized light from the surroundings

through a liquid crystal material.
exhibiting the
almost transparent substances,
b. Liquid crystals are

properties of both solid and liquid matter.

iv. Flat panel display :
reduce the
that is designed to
a Plat panel display is a display method
the length of the tube.
depth of the CRT display caused by of
are made up of pairs
b.
The screens of these flat panel displays
electrodes.
one picture element.
C. ach pair of electrodes is used to generate
Que W h a t are the characteristics of video display devices?

Answer
ortant characteristics ofvideo display devices :

Persistence: time it takes the emitted light

from the

Se ence is defined as the its original intensity.

to decay to one-tenth of
een refreshing rates
to
b Lower require higher
persistence phosphors However t 1s
without flicker.
tain a picture the screen
on
useful for displaying animations. are useful for
persistence phosphors
disnlaOher hand higher
dhsplaying static and highly complex pictures.
 Software Tools
5-14 G (CS/IT-Sem-7)

maximum
number of points
number points that
t can be
2 . R e s o l u t i o n :

the
the CRT
indicates
Resolution on
overlap
a. without points per centimeter
c e n t i m e t e r hat can be
displayed
number
of points per
as
the
defined vertically.
b. It is and
intensit
plotted
horizontally
hor,
of phosphor,
the intensity
the type
depends o n detlection systems used in tho C
CRT.
Resolution and
C. the focusing
displayed and
3 Aspect r a t i o :
to horizontal points to produce e
3
It is the ratio of verticalpointsthe s c r e e n .
a. directions on
in both
length lines a vertical line plotted with fo
m e a n s that
ratio of 4/5 plotted with fiva
b. An aspect horizontal line
as a
has the same length
points
points.

short note o n drivers.

Write
Que 5.13. a

Answer
1. Adriver is a program that interacts with a particular device or special

(frequently optional) kind of software.

The driver contains the special knowledge of the device or special
software interface that programs using the driver do not. In personal
computers, a driver is often packaged as a Dynamic Link Library (DLL)
file.
3. A driver in
software provides a programming interface to control
ana
manage specific lower level interface that is often linked to a
type of hardware, or other low-level service.
specin
4In the of hardware, the specific
case
physical or virtual hardware devices is subclass of drivers controlnug
known as device
5. The main
purpose of device drivers is to drivers
a translator
between a hardware device provide abstraction by acti
systems that use it. and the applications or opera
6.
Programmers can write entlyof
whatever specific higher-level application
hardware the end-user is code indepe
7. For
example, a high-level using.
may
simply have two application for
lower level,
interacting with a serial poi
interacting w
functions for "send data"
communicate to device driver
a
and "recev data".A
ata". A t a

the implementing ns wou

function
these
ons would

computer. particular serial port controller

installed ona users

insu