Human-computer interaction: users, tasks & designs
Introduction
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
HCI
HCI stands for Human-computer interaction It is the study of computer systems from the users point of view Its goal is to understand why computer systems are easy/difficult to use, and... ...be able to design easier systems
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Aim
The aim of this study is to introduce you to the fundamental and exciting area of human computer interaction (HCI) and to prepare you for more advanced HCI topics.
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
What is useful or usable?
For something to be useful means that the user can actually achieve the task they want to.
For example, the user wants to write a letter. The system supports letter writing. Thus a useful system supports the objectives of the user.
For something to be usable it must allow the users to achieve the task they want to easily and enjoyably. For example, one letter production might be easy and pleasant to use, whilst another letter production system might be difficult and frustrating to use.
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Useful or usable?
The ticketing system is useful, ...but not usable Useful the system can do the task which it is for Easy to measure (so long as you know what the task is) Usable the system can easily do the task Difficult to measure
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Who designed that?
The more interesting question is why? It doesnt take an HCI degree to see that there are fundamental problems with this system But it was not programmed by idiots: on the contrary
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
User Centred System Design UCSD
Central focus on the people who will use the systems, on their preferences and requirements Building simple models of the users, the tasks An iterative process Prototyping and the evaluation of alternatives by the users
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
User Centred System design
Analysis of users and their world
Evaluate ideas ideally with potential users Iteration is the key
Problem statement Observation of existing systems
Task analysis
HTA
Usability guidelines & heuristics
Technical & legal etc. constraints
Requirements gathering
Requirement statement
Functional Non-functional
Design and storyboarding
Storyboard
Prototype implementation
Prototype
Evaluation
Transcript & evaluation report
Installation
Final implementation
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
This lecture...
A closer look at tools for designing interactive systems What is design Why is design problematic for HCI Different design methodologies Benefits Drawbacks
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
A gap in the UCD
Requirements to design is a big step What do (should) designers do? Redevelop old designs Create new designs Justify what theyre doing
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Design as a process
Design step
Design space
Requirements
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Implementation
(What really happens...)
???
Requirements
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Implementation
Designers...
Designers plot a course through the design tree Each step is a design decision At any point in the design tree there are several possible decisions The possible decisions make a design space
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
The design space...
Possible to explicitly define functionally correct design decisions Very difficult to define usability correct design decisions Difficult to define Difficult to measure Usability reqs may contradict one another etc... Engineering process is geared towards producing things that work, rather than things that are usable
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
So what?
UCD puts the user in at every stage of the process to test usability reqs Very expensive Other design methods Usability engineering Questions Options Criteria Attempts to force usability issues on designers
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Usability engineering
An attempt to... Define HCI in an HCI language Make HCI challenges look like engineering challenges Deals with... Explicit goals Explicit metrics etc
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Example...
Menu system on a mobile phone... Lots of functions Limited screen space Challenge... How to (sensibly) organise those functions into a small screen space
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Mobile phone menu system
Small size of screen: limited menu size Therefore compensate by menu depth Problem: User may not be aware of where they are in menu system We want to avoid menu lostness How much? What is menu lostness?
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
So what?
Specification: Says what is expected of the system Not how the system should do it Not a design solution Makes the design space clearer What is acceptable as a design solution How to measure the acceptableness
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
Specification to design
Usability specification defines the design space... How to choose the best option in the design space? 1st: Design some options (Creative: hard to systematise) 2nd: Analyse those options 3rd: Decide which is best
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
The real world...
HCI used to be purely academic Usability didnt sell, therefore no interest Post boo.com, much more interest in usability Usability consultancy money for old rope emerging professional bodies BCS HCI group Usability professionals group
Use with Human Computer Interaction by Serengul Smith-Atakan ISBN 1-84480-454-4 2006 Middlesex University Press
