Human-Computer Interaction

Lecture 2
HCI - Multidisciplinary,
Functionality, and Users

Instructor: Nadeem Zaidkilani

[email protected]
HCI academic programs train a diverse range of professionals, including:

• User Experience (UX) Designers

• Interaction Designers
• User Interface (UI) Designers
• Application Designers
• Usability Engineers
• User Interface Developers
• Application Developers
• Technical Communicators/Online Information Designers
Multidisciplinary field in HCI
Multidisciplinary field in HCI

• Computer Science
o Core Contributions: Development of algorithms, software design, usability testing, and artificial intelligence.

o Key Focus: Creating functional, efficient, and innovative user interfaces.

• Psychology
o Core Contributions: Cognitive and behavioral studies, human factors, and emotional response analysis.

o Key Focus: Understanding user behavior and mental processes to design intuitive interfaces.

• Sociology
o Core Contributions: Social interaction analysis, cultural considerations, technology adoption, and collaborative
systems design.

o Key Focus: Designing technology that fits within social contexts and supports effective communication.
• Education
o Core Contributions: Learning theories, instructional design, user training, and assessment.

o Key Focus: Creating educational tools and systems that enhance learning and are easy to use.

• Anthropology
o Core Contributions: Ethnographic research, cultural practices, user behavior studies, and qualitative user research.

o Key Focus: Understanding the context of technology use and designing culturally appropriate interfaces.

• Mechanical Engineering
o Core Contributions: Ergonomics, human-machine interaction, robotics, and product design.

o Key Focus: Ensuring physical devices are user-friendly and comfortable to use.
 Functionality of HCI

• Objective
• Interface
• Functional part
• Interaction
• User tasks
 Example Scenario
• 1. Objective
• Usability: The goal is to provide a seamless shopping experience where users can easily find, evaluate, and purchase
products.

• Accessibility: The website is designed to be accessible to users with different abilities, including features like screen reader
support and adjustable text sizes.

• User Satisfaction: Ensuring users enjoy their shopping experience through easy navigation, fast checkout, and reliable
customer service.

• Efficiency and Productivity: Allowing users to quickly find and purchase products, minimizing the time and effort required.

• 2. Interface
• Graphical User Interface (GUI): The main interface includes product listings, images, search bars, and buttons for adding
items to the cart and checking out.

• Natural User Interface (NUI): Some functionality might include voice search or recommendations based on past behavior.
• 3. Functional Part
• Input: Users interact with the site using a keyboard and mouse or touch input on mobile devices to search for
products, select items, and enter payment information.

• Output: The website displays product details, reviews, prices, and confirmation messages.

• Processing: The system processes user searches, filters results, manages the shopping cart, and handles payment
transactions.

• Feedback: Real-time feedback includes updates on search results, cart status, and order confirmation.

• 4. Interaction
• User Interaction Models: The interaction model includes direct manipulation for browsing products and a form-
filling model for the checkout process.

• Interaction Styles: Users interact through clicking, scrolling, and typing.

• Interaction Techniques: Techniques include clicking on product images for details, using drop-down menus for
selecting product variations, and entering information in text fields during checkout.
• 5. User Tasks
• Task Analysis: Users typically browse products, read reviews, add items to the cart, and complete the purchase.

• Task Design: The website supports these tasks through search functions, detailed product pages, a shopping cart,
and a streamlined checkout process.

• Task Flow: A typical task flow involves searching for a product, viewing product details, adding the product to the
cart, and completing the purchase.

• Task Support: Features like search suggestions, customer reviews, order tracking, and customer service support help
users throughout their shopping experience.
 Imagine you want to buy a new pair of shoes
1. Objective: Find and purchase a pair of shoes that meet your preferences and budget.
2. Interface: You visit the Amazon website and see a search bar, product categories, and various product listings.
3. Functional Part:
o Input: You type "running shoes" into the search bar.
o Output: The website displays a list of running shoes with images, prices, and ratings.
o Processing: Amazon's system sorts and filters the results based on relevance and your previous searches.
o Feedback: You see a message indicating how many results were found and recommendations for similar products.
4. Interaction:
o You click on a shoe that catches your eye to see more details.
o You use drop-down menus to select the size and color.
o You add the item to your cart with a button click.
5. User Tasks:
o Searching for Shoes: Amazon's search functionality helps you quickly find a range of running shoes.
o Evaluating Options: Product pages provide images, descriptions, reviews, and ratings to help you decide.
o Purchasing the Shoes: The checkout process allows you to review your cart, enter shipping and payment information, and place the order.
o Order Confirmation: You receive a confirmation message and an email receipt once the purchase is complete.
•
Imagine you want to adjust the lighting in your living room for a cozy evening setting
1. Objective: Create a dim, warm lighting atmosphere.
2. Interface: You can use either the mobile app or a voice assistant.
3. Functional Part:
o Input: You open the app and slide the brightness control to 30% or say, "Hey Google, set the living room lamp to 30%
brightness."
o Output: The lamp dims to 30% brightness.
o Processing: The lamp receives the command and adjusts the brightness level accordingly.
o Feedback: The lamp dims visibly, and the app might show the new brightness level. The voice assistant might respond
with "Setting the living room lamp to 30% brightness."
4. Interaction:
o In the app, you swipe the brightness slider.
o Via voice, you issue the spoken command.
5. User Tasks:
o Adjusting Brightness: The app or voice assistant allows you to quickly change the brightness level.
o Setting the Mood: You can easily create the desired lighting atmosphere using the controls.
o Receiving Confirmation: Immediate feedback from the lamp ensures that your command was executed correctly.
User Classes

1. Novice Users:

• Little knowledge of tasks or interface concepts.

• Require guidance and may struggle with interface navigation.

2. Knowledgeable Intermittent Users:

• Some task and interface knowledge, but may forget specific features.
• Benefit from occasional reminders or prompts.

3. Expert Frequent Users:

• Thoroughly familiar with tasks and interface concepts.

• Navigate interfaces efficiently and utilize advanced features
 Users with Disabilities

Designers must plan early to accommodate users with disabilities

Early planning is more cost-efficient than adding on later

Many different disabilities can be found in society, such as the following:

• Visual Disability : Solutions: Screen readers, magnification tools, high contrast modes, voice assistants.
• Hearing Disability: Solutions: Captioning, visual alerts, transcription services, sign language interfaces.
• Physical Disability: Solutions: Voice recognition, alternative input devices, customizable interfaces, touchless interaction.
 Older adult users

• HomeAssistis an assisted living platform for older adults

The tablet is used to show alerts (e.g. when the front door was left opened ) and reminders
(http://phoenix.inria.fr/research-projects/homeassist)
• Children
• Emphasize entertainment and education
• Younger users

Design principles for children’s software:

• Engagement and Control: Children's software should let kids interact and control their experience, with feedback to guide
them.

• Social Interaction: Encourage kids to play together and engage with peers.

• Balanced Challenges: Offer fun challenges that are safe for kids, considering parents' concerns.

• Respectful Content: Keep language respectful and age-appropriate, avoiding inappropriate material.

• Familiarity and Exploration: Include familiar characters and environments, allowing exploration and repetition.

• Repetition for Learning: Provide activities that can be repeated for better learning and engagement.
Thank you for your attention.