INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN-

COMPUTER INTERACTION
(HCI)
 Definition and scope of HCI
 Historical overview and key milestones
 Importance of user-centered design
 HCI principles and guidelines
DEFINITION OF HCI

 HCI, or Human-Computer Interaction, is a multidisciplinary field

that focuses on the design, evaluation, and study of interactions
between humans and computer systems.
 It involves understanding how people interact with technology and
designing user interfaces that are intuitive, efficient, and satisfying
to use.
 The goal is to design effective and user-centered interfaces.
 User-Centered Design: HCI emphasizes a user-centered approach,
placing the needs and goals of users at the forefront of the design
process.
 It aims to create interactive systems that are usable, accessible,
and supportive of users' cognitive, physical, and emotional
capabilities.
SCOPE OF HCI
 User Research: HCI involves conducting user research to understand users' behaviors, needs,
and preferences.
 Interface Design: HCI encompasses the design of user interfaces, including graphical user
interfaces (GUIs), voice-based interfaces, mobile interfaces, and other interactive systems..
 Interaction Techniques: HCI explores various interaction techniques that facilitate user-
computer interactions, such as touch, gestures, voice commands, virtual reality, augmented
reality, and natural language processing.
 Usability Evaluation: HCI involves evaluating the usability and effectiveness of interactive
systems through methods like usability testing, heuristic evaluation, and user feedback.
 User Experience (UX) Design: HCI encompasses aspects of user experience design, which
involves considering the holistic experience of users when interacting with a system.
 Context of Use: HCI considers the context in which interactive systems are used, including the
physical environment, social factors, and cultural aspects.
 Accessibility and Inclusivity: HCI aims to ensure that interactive systems are accessible to all
users, including those with disabilities or diverse needs.
 Ethical Considerations: HCI addresses ethical considerations related to user data privacy,
informed consent, user rights, and the responsible use of technology.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW AND KEY
MILESTONES
 1960s: The emergence of early computing
 1970s: Introduction of the mouse and graphical user interfaces
 1980s: Cognitive engineering and the GOMS model
 1990s: Web and internet revolution & User-centered design and usability
engineering
 2000s: Ubiquitous computing and mobile devices & User experience
design
 2010s: Touchscreen interfaces and gestural interactions, Voice-based
assistants and natural language processing & Augmented and virtual
reality
 2020s: Continued focus on AI and machine learning & Ethical
considerations and responsible design
 IMPORTANCE OF USER-CENTERED
DESIGN
 User-centered design (UCD) is an approach that prioritizes the needs,
preferences, and behaviors of users throughout the design and development
process of interactive systems. Here are some key points highlighting the
importance of user-centered design:
 Improved User Experience: UCD aims to create interfaces that are intuitive,
easy to use, and meet the specific needs of the target users, by involving users
in the design process and incorporating their feedback
 Increased User Satisfaction: When users find an interface easy to navigate,
understand, and accomplish their tasks efficiently, it leads to higher user
satisfaction.
 Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity: Designing interfaces with a focus on user
needs and workflows can significantly improve task efficiency and productivity.
UCD aims to minimize cognitive load, reduce user errors, and streamline
interactions, resulting in faster and more effective completion of tasks.
 IMPORTANCE OF USER-CENTERED
DESIGN
 Reduced Training and Support Requirements: Intuitive and user-friendly
interfaces developed through UCD require less training and support for users.
 Increased User Adoption and Engagement: Users are more likely to adopt and
engage with interfaces that are tailored to their needs and preferences. UCD
helps identify and address user pain points, resulting in interfaces that
resonate with users, leading to higher adoption rates and increased user
engagement.
 Minimized Redesign and Development Costs: By involving users in the design
process, UCD helps identify usability issues and design flaws early on,
reducing the need for costly redesigns and rework.
 Mitigated Risk and Improved Market Competitiveness: By understanding
users' needs and behaviors, UCD reduces the risk of developing products that
do not meet user expectations.
IMPORTANCE OF USER-CENTERED
DESIGN
 Ethical Considerations: UCD promotes ethical design practices by
ensuring user privacy, data security, and inclusivity. By involving
diverse user groups and considering their perspectives, UCD helps
create interfaces that accommodate a range of users, including
those with disabilities or unique requirements.
 Iterative Improvement: UCD embraces an iterative design
approach, where user feedback and usability testing inform
ongoing refinements and improvements. This iterative cycle helps
address emerging user needs, adapt to evolving technologies, and
maintain a user-centered focus over time.
 HCI PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES

 Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) principles and guidelines provide a framework for

designing interfaces that are usable, efficient, and enjoyable for users. These
principles are based on research, user-centered design approaches, and best
practices. Here are some key HCI principles and guidelines:
 Visibility: Make the system's state and available actions visible and understandable to
users. Provide clear feedback and visual cues to help users understand the system's
response to their actions.
 Feedback: Provide immediate and informative feedback to users for their actions.
Inform users about the system's status, progress, and any errors or exceptions that
occur.
 Consistency: Maintain consistency in the design and behavior of the interface. Use
consistent terminology, layout, and interaction patterns to reduce cognitive load and
enhance learnability.
 Simplicity: Strive for simplicity and minimize complexity in the interface design. Keep
the interface clean, uncluttered, and focused on essential functionality. Avoid
unnecessary elements that might confuse or overwhelm users.
 HCI PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES

 Learnability: Design interfaces that are easy to learn and use, even for new or
infrequent users. Provide clear instructions, intuitive navigation, and contextual
cues to help users understand the system's functionality and how to accomplish
tasks.
 Flexibility: Allow users to customize and adapt the interface to their preferences
and needs. Provide options for personalization, adjustable settings, and shortcuts
to accommodate diverse user requirements.
 Error Prevention and Recovery: Design interfaces that prevent errors whenever
possible. Use constraints, validation, and error prevention techniques to guide
users and minimize the occurrence of errors. Provide clear error messages and
support efficient error recovery methods when errors do occur.
 Efficiency: Strive for efficiency and optimize the interface for fast and effective
task completion. Minimize the number of steps and interactions required to
accomplish common tasks. Provide shortcuts, automation, and efficient
information retrieval mechanisms.
 HCI PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES

 Accessibility: Design interfaces that are accessible to users with disabilities or special
needs. Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies, provide alternatives for visual
or auditory content, and adhere to accessibility standards and guidelines.
 User-Centered Design: Involve users throughout the design process and incorporate
their feedback and insights. Conduct user research, usability testing, and iterative
design to ensure the interface meets the needs and preferences of the target users.
 Aesthetics: Consider the visual appeal and aesthetics of the interface. Use
appropriate colors, typography, and visual elements to create an engaging and
pleasing user experience. However, ensure that aesthetics do not compromise
usability or readability.
 Context of Use: Design interfaces that consider the context in which they will be
used. Understand the users' environment, tasks, and goals, and adapt the interface
accordingly. Consider factors such as device form factor, input methods, and
situational constraints.