UNIT - 1

INTRODUCTION
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a rapidly growing field that focuses on improving how
people interact with technology. It combines psychology, computer science, and design to
create user-friendly interfaces.

HCI has various applications, from business to healthcare. Effective user interfaces can lead
to business success, but they can also raise ethical concerns, especially in areas like national
security and privacy.

HCI research aims to understand how people use technology and develop better ways for
them to interact with it. This includes studying user behavior, creating theories, and
conducting experiments.

Challenges in HCI design include creating interfaces that work across different devices and are
accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. As technology continues to evolve, HCI will play a
crucial role in shaping our future interactions

2m

USABILITY GOALS AND MEASURES:

Careful determination of the user community and of the benchmark set of tasks is the basis
for establishing usability goals and measures. For each user and each task, precise
measurable objectives guide the designer, evaluator, purchaser, or manager.

The ISO 9241 standard focuses on admirable goals (effectiveness, efficiency, and
satisfaction), but the following usability measures, which focus on the latter two goals, lead
more directly to practical evaluation:

1. Time to learn. How long does it take for typical members of the user community to learn
how to use the actions relevant to a set of tasks?

2. Speed of performance. How long does it take to carry out the benchmark tasks?

3. Rate of errors by users. How many and what kinds of errors do people make in carrying out
the benchmark tasks? Although time to make and correct errors might be incorporated into
the speed of performance, error handling is such a critical component of interface usage that
it deserves extensive study.

4. Retention over time. How well do users maintain their knowledge after an hour, a day, or a
week? Retention may be linked closely to time to learn, and frequency of use plays an
important role.
5. Subjective satisfaction. How much did users like using various aspects of the interface?
The answer can be ascertained by interview or by written surveys that include satisfaction
scales and space for free-form comments.

USABILITY MOTIVATIONS
There's a strong interest in creating user-friendly interfaces due to the poor design of many
current systems and the benefits that good design offers. This interest comes from
developers of various types of systems, including life-critical, industrial, office, and
collaborative systems.

Life-Critical Systems Systems like air traffic control and medical instruments require high
reliability and effectiveness, even under stressful conditions. While training time is important,
subjective satisfaction is less so for professionals.

Industrial and Commercial Uses Systems used in industries like banking and insurance must
be cost-effective and easy to learn. Speed and accuracy are also crucial, but operator fatigue
and stress are concerns.

Office, Home, and Entertainment Applications For personal use, interfaces must be easy to
learn, have low error rates, and provide satisfaction. Competition is fierce, so users may
abandon poorly designed systems.

Exploratory, Creative, and Collaborative Interfaces These systems support intellectual and
creative activities, often involving multiple users working together.

Sociotechnical Systems Systems like voting and health support must prioritize trust, privacy,
and accountability. They need to be designed for various user levels and provide clear
feedback.

Overall, designers of interfaces must consider factors like user expertise, cost-effectiveness,
and ease of use to create successful systems.

UNIVERSAL USABILITY
Understanding Users

Designers must consider the wide range of human abilities, backgrounds, motivations,
personalities, cultures, and work styles.
Different usage profiles (novice, intermittent, expert) and task profiles require varying
designs.
Universal usability is becoming increasingly important due to the growing diversity of
users and the push for broader consumer appeal.

Physical Abilities and Workplaces

 Design must accommodate diverse physical abilities, including visual, auditory, and
motor impairments.
Workplace design plays a significant role in user comfort, efficiency, and overall well-
being.
Factors like work surface height, chair adjustability, and lighting can impact user
experience.

Cognitive and Perceptual Abilities

Understanding human cognitive processes, such as memory, problem-solving, and

decision-making, is essential for effective design.
Factors like arousal, fatigue, and mental load influence performance and can impact user
interactions.
Designers should consider the limitations and strengths of human perception and
cognitive abilities.

Personality Differences

Personality traits can influence user preferences, motivations, and interactions with
technology.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is one tool for understanding personality types.
Designers can tailor interfaces to accommodate different personality styles.

Cultural and International Diversity

Design must consider cultural differences in language, customs, and preferences.

Internationalization is crucial for global markets.
Factors like character sets, reading direction, date and time formats, and cultural
metaphors must be considered.

Users with Disabilities

Design should accommodate users with disabilities, including visual, auditory, and motor
impairments.
Accessibility guidelines and resources are available to help designers create inclusive
interfaces.
Examples of accommodations include keyboard alternatives, color coding, and textual
alternatives to images.

Older Adult Users

Design should consider the physical and cognitive changes associated with aging.
Adaptations like larger fonts, higher contrast, and easier navigation can improve
accessibility for older adults.
Interfaces should be designed to support the needs and preferences of older users.

Children

Design for children must consider their developmental stages, limitations, and interests.
 Safety and appropriate content are crucial, especially in online environments.
Interfaces should be engaging, interactive, and support children's learning and
development.

Overall, designers must strive to create interfaces that are inclusive, accessible, and meet
the needs of all users. By considering these diverse factors, designers can create more
effective, efficient, and enjoyable user experiences.

GOALS FOR OUR PROFESSION :

The field of HCI aims to create interfaces that are intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable for users.
To achieve this, it focuses on three primary goals:

1. Influencing Academic and Industrial Researchers

Promoting Scientific Research: Encouraging the use of rigorous research methods, such
as controlled experimentation, to understand human-computer interaction principles.
Addressing Research Gaps: Identifying and exploring areas where further research is
needed, such as reducing user anxiety, facilitating graceful evolution, and improving
input devices.

2. Providing Tools, Techniques, and Knowledge for Commercial Developers

Developing User-Interface Building Tools: Creating software tools that streamline

interface development and ensure consistency.
Establishing Design Guidelines: Providing clear guidelines and best practices for
interface design.
Promoting Iterative Development: Emphasizing the importance of ongoing evaluation
and refinement of interfaces based on user feedback.

3. Raising the Computer Consciousness of the General Public

Advocating for User-Friendly Design: Promoting the benefits of well-designed interfaces

and encouraging users to demand high-quality experiences.
Educating the Public: Raising awareness about computer usage and dispelling common
misconceptions.
Addressing User Concerns: Helping users overcome fears and anxieties associated with
technology.

By achieving these goals, HCI can contribute to the development of more effective, efficient,
and enjoyable interfaces that benefit both users and businesses.

Managing Design Processes

Introduction:

The text emphasizes the importance of designing user interfaces that are easy to use and
meet the needs of a wide range of people. It highlights the shift from a focus on technical
expertise to accommodating a broader user base with varying motivations and skills. The text
also underscores the value of involving users in the design process to create interfaces that
are effective and satisfying.

Organizational Design:

Organizations recognize the role of usability for productivity. With the increase of novice
users, products with similar functionality can succeed or fail due in part to good usability
engineering. A shift in focus towards usability constitutes an organizational change to be
managed.

The benefits of this change are; shorter learning times, performance, error reduction. The
Return on Investment (ROI) in major corporations is always questioned, the benefits must be
made clear. As projects become more complex, the critical specialization in the field of
usability and HCI increases. Their are interface-development activities where the ROI for
usability analysis is not immediately apparent, but usability of the delivered systems crucial
for success.

Some industries, like aerospace, have Human Systems Integration (HSI) requirements that
deal with human factors, usability, display design, navigation, and son, while meeting
customer requirements. As user-interface design matures, projects grow in complexity, size,
and importance where the UI designs take on new perspectives. Usability engineers and user-
interface architects (UX) gain experience in managing organizational change. Design is
inherently creative and unpredictable.

Method in Recognizing the creative and unpredictable:

 Design is a process, not an end-state and cannot be adequately represented statically

 The design process is non-hierarchical; it is neither strictly bottom-up nor top-down.

 The design process is radically transformational; involves the development of partial and
interim solutions

 Design intrinsically involves the discovery of new goals.

The Four Pillars of Design:

A set of fundamentals to assist interface designers optimize usability. These are benefits that
are derived from Academic Research and if used properly will assist the designer in creating a
Successful Interface.

 Ethnographic Observation provides User-interface Requirements

 Theories and Models provide a means of developing Guidelines Documents & Process
 Algorithms and Prototypes assist the development of User-interface Software Tools which
can be used for Rapid-Prototyping.

 Controlled Experimentation provides Expert Reviews & Usability Testing

User Interface Requirements

1. User Specification: Clearly define the user group and their specific tasks to ensure
software meets their needs.
2. Target Audience: Identify who will use the software and how they will interact with it.
3. Training Relevance: In learning and development (L&D), understand the audience for
training and expected outcomes.
4. Project Differences: Tailor e-learning projects based on user needs, e.g., junior sales
training vs. leadership development for executives.
5. Outcome Focused: Effective software and training design relies on knowing users' goals
and backgrounds.

Guidelines, Documents and Processes

1. Documentation Importance: Create well-written guidelines to standardize training

experiences across different instructors.
2. Scope of Materials: Documents can range from short, simple guides to extensive,
comprehensive manuals depending on training complexity.
3. Four E’s Framework: Follow the principles of Education, Enforcement, Exemption, and
Enhancement for effective training documents.
4. Trainer Engagement: Encourage trainers to discuss and understand guidelines, allowing
for clarifications of any questions.
5. Ongoing Review: Regularly review and update training materials, ideally once a year, to
maintain relevance and accuracy.

User-Interface Software Tools

1. Client Expectations: Clients may lack a clear vision of the final product, making it
essential to set expectations early.
2. Cost of Changes: Making changes post-development can be costly and challenging; avoid
this by clarifying designs beforehand.
3. Early Visualization: Provide clients with realistic models of the final product before
development begins to align expectations.
4. Training Models: Use instructional design frameworks like ADDIE to outline training
programs clearly from the start.
5. Financial Considerations: Effective early communication about training programs helps
mitigate financial and time investments.

Expert Reviews & Usability Testing

1. Pilot Testing: Conduct small and large pilot tests on software components to identify and
fix errors before market launch.
 2. L&D Parallel: Learning and development experts should similarly test training programs
to ensure effectiveness.
3. Peer Review: Involve other L&D professionals to review training materials for potential
issues or improvements.
4. Test-Runs for Large Programs: For extensive training initiatives, conduct small test runs
to assess whether learning objectives are met.
5. Feedback Integration: Use feedback from testing to refine and enhance the training
program before full implementation.

Development methodologies:

Communication Challenges

Project Failures: Many software projects fail due to poor communication between
developers and clients.
Understanding Needs: Successful developers focus on gathering accurate business
requirements.
User-Centered Design: Focusing on users can save time and money in development.

Successful Developer Practices

1. Gather Requirements: Develop skills to understand client needs.

2. Focus on Design: Prioritize user-centered design during development.
3. Use Methodologies: Apply methods like GUIDE, STUDIO, and OVID.

Rapid Contextual Design Techniques

1. User Interviews: Talk to users in their environments.

2. Analyze Findings: Discuss insights to create useful models.
3. Team Discussions: Collaborate on workflow and issues.
4. Organize Insights: Use affinity diagrams to group ideas.
5. Create Personas: Develop fictional characters to represent users.

Visualization and Prototyping Techniques

1. Visualize Scenarios: Walk through user interactions with personas.

2. Storyboarding: Outline user tasks with visuals.
3. Design User Environments: Build environments based on storyboards.
4. Paper Prototypes: Create simple prototypes for testing.
5. Test on Paper: Use prototypes to gather feedback before finalizing.

By improving communication and using these techniques, development teams can better
meet user needs and succeed in projects.

Ethnographic Observation:

Observation of Users
 Cultural Understanding: Each user group has its own unique culture, making observation
crucial.
Ethnographic Methods: These methods are suitable for observing users in their natural
environment.

Ethnographic Approaches

Immersion: Ethnographic methods involve deeply engaging with users by listening,

observing, and asking questions to understand their experiences.

Non-Traditional Ethnography

Design Focus: User-interface designers observe users to create designs that improve
their lives.
Time Constraints: Designers often have limited time, so observations must be concise
and effective.

Intentions for Observation

1. Influence Design: Gather insights that directly impact design decisions.

2. Follow a Valid Process: Ensure that observations are part of a structured and reliable
design process.

Guidelines for an Ethnographic Study

Preparation

1. Understand Context: Familiarize yourself with workplace policies and family values in
relevant environments.
2. Review Existing Interfaces: Learn about the current interface and its history.
3. Set Goals and Questions: Define initial objectives and prepare specific questions for your
study.
4. Obtain Access: Secure permission to observe users or conduct interviews.

Field Study

1. Build Rapport: Establish a good relationship with users to encourage openness.

2. Data Collection: Observe users and gather both objective/subjective and
qualitative/quantitative data.
3. Follow Leads: Be flexible and pursue any interesting leads that arise during your visits,
documenting your observations.

Analysis

1. Organize Data: Compile and arrange collected data into a structured format (e.g.,
databases).
2. Quantify and Summarize: Use statistics to quantify findings and summarize key insights.
3. Interpret Data: Reduce complexity and draw meaningful conclusions from the data.
 4. Refine Goals: Revisit and adjust your initial goals based on insights gained.

Report

1. Consider Your Audience: Tailor your findings for multiple audiences and their specific
interests.
2. Prepare a Report: Write a comprehensive report that presents your findings clearly and
effectively.

By following these guidelines, you can conduct an effective ethnographic study that provides
valuable insights for design and development

Participatory Design:
Participatory design in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a collaborative approach
that actively involves users in the design process. This method empowers users to
contribute their insights, experiences, and feedback, ensuring that the final product
aligns with their needs and expectations. By treating users as co-designers,
participatory design fosters a more user-centered approach to creating technology
and interfaces.

Key Aspects of Participatory Design:

1. User Involvement: Users collaborate in the design process, providing valuable insights.
2. Co-Designing: Users engage in brainstorming and design activities to influence outcomes.
3. Democratic Approach: Emphasizes equal participation from all stakeholders for diverse
perspectives.
4. Iterative Feedback: Involves creating prototypes that users test and provide feedback
on.
5. Focus on Context: Users share insights about their environments and workflows to
inform design.

Scenario Development :
Scenario development is a technique used in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to create
detailed narratives that describe how users interact with a system in specific contexts. These
scenarios help designers understand user needs, workflows, and the environment in which
the product will be used.

Scenarios

 “Day-in-the-life” helpful to characterize what happens when users perform typical tasks. 
Analogs and metaphors

 Describes novel systems

 Write scenarios of usage and then if possible, act them out as a form of theater, effective
with multiple user cooperation.

Useful applications

 Control rooms, cockpits, financial trading rooms and other places where people must
coordinate

Social Impacts

Interactive systems often have a dramatic impact on large numbers of users. To minimize
risks, a thoughtful statement of anticipated impacts circulated among stakeholders can be a
useful process for eliciting productive suggestions early in development.

Examples of a social impact statement

Describe the new system and it's benefits

o Convey the high-level goals of the new system

o Identify the stakeholders. o Identify specific benefits

Address concerns and potential barriers

o Anticipate changes in job functions.

o address security and privacy issues

o Describe accountability and responsibility for system misuse and failure.

o Avoid potential biases.

o weigh individual rights o assess trade-offs between centralization and decentralization o

Preserve democratic principles

o ensure divers access o Promote simplicity.

Outline the development process

o Present an estimated project schedule

o Propose a process for making decisions discuss expectations of how stake holders will be
involved.

o Recognize needs for staff, training and hardware.

o propose a plan for backups of data

o Outline a plan for migrating to the new system.

o Describe a plan for measuring the success of the new system

Legal Issues
Privacy

Concerns arise over sensitive data (medical, legal, financial) that may be accessed or
tampered with illegally.

Safety and Reliability

User interfaces for critical systems (aircraft, automobiles, medical devices) must ensure
safety, as failures can lead to life-or-death situations.

Patent Protection for Software

Developers may patent software to recover costs and generate profit from their projects,
raising questions about intellectual property rights.

Piracy and File Sharing

Legal issues regarding users' rights to store, share, and own digital content, including the
legality of file-sharing practices.

Freedom of Speech

Questions arise about users' rights to express controversial or offensive opinions via
email or online platforms.

Localization

Compliance with various legal standards across different jurisdictions (international,

federal, state, and municipal) is essential for software deployment.

These legal issues highlight the complexities that arise as user interfaces become increasingly
integrated into various aspects of life and business.

Usability Testing and Laboratories :

The usability-test report provided supportive confirmation of progress and specific

recommendations for changes.

 Usability testing not only sped up many projects, but also produced dramatic cost savings.
 Usability tests are designed to find flaws in user interfaces

Usability testing comes in many different flavors and formats. Most of the current research
demonstrates the importance of testing often and at varied times during the design cycle.
The purpose of the test and the type of data that is needed are important considerations.
Testing can be performed using combinations of these methods as well.
 Paper mock-ups and prototyping.

o A test administrator plays the role of the computer by flipping the pages while asking a
participant user to carry out typical tasks.

o Inexpensive, rapid, and usually productive.

 Discount usability testing.

o Quick and dirty approach to task analysis, prototype development, and testing o Widely
influential because it lowers the barriers to newcomers.

o Advocates point out that most serious problems are found with only a few participants,
enabling prompt revision and repeated testing.

 Competitive usability testing.

o Competitive testing compares a new interface to previous versions or to similar products

from competitors.

 Universal usability testing.

o This approach test interfaces with highly diverse users, hardware software platforms, and
networks.

o This will result in the creation of products that can be used by a wider variety of users.

 Field tests and portable labs.

o This testing method puts new interfaces to work in realistic environments or in a more
naturalistic environment in the field for a fixed trial period.

 Remote usability testing.

o Since web-based applications are available internationally, it is tempting to conduct

usability tests online, avoiding the complexity and cost of bringing participants to a lab.

o This makes it possible to have larger numbers of participants with more diverse
backgrounds, and it may add to the realism, since participants do their tests in their own
environments and use their own equipment.

Usability Labs

 A typical modest usability laboratory would have two 10-by-10-foot areas, divided by a
halfsilvered mirror.

Step-by-Step Usability Guide

 Plan  Analyze  Design  Test and Refine