"Human-computer interaction (HCI) is the
study of interaction between people (users) and computers. Interaction between
users and computers occurs at the user interface (or simply interface),
which includes both hardware (i.e. peripherals and other hardware) and software
(for example determining which, and how, information is presented to the user
on a screen)."
“Human-Computer Interaction is
a discipline concerned
with the design,
evaluation and
implementation of interactive
computing systems for
human use .
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research is performed to provide and
promote a scientific understanding of the interaction between humans and the
computer technology and tools that we use.
A basic goal of HCI is to
improve the interactions between users and computers by making computers more
usable and receptive to the user's needs.
There are 4 types of User Interfaces:
Command Line Interface (CLI)Menu Driven InterfaceGraphical User Interface (GUI)Natural Language Interface
i.
Command Line Interface
(CLI)
A CLI displays a prompt; the user
types a command on the keyboard and executes the command. The computer executes
the command, providing textual output.
Advantages
•
Very flexible with the use of “switches”
(options)
•
Good for “expert” users - can quickly access
commands
•
Uses the fewest
system resources
Disadvantages
•
Requires the user to learn “complex” commands
or language
•
“Hidden” features i.e. if you don’t know the
commands you won’t know the features are there!
•
Not very good for novice users
Command Line Interface Applications
•
System administration
•
Engineering applications
•
Scientific applications
•
Ideal for visually impaired users!!!
ii.
Menu Driven Interface
The user has a list of items to
choose from, and can make selections by highlighting one.
Advantages
•
No need to learn complex commands/language
•
Easier for a novice to learn/use
•
Ideal when there are a limited number of options (efficient)
Disadvantages
•
Can be frustrating for experienced users i.e.
the command they want to use is buried 5 levels deep!!!!
•
User interface may be limited by screen space
and number of options available
Menu
Driven Applications
•
ATM
•
Mobile Phone
•
MP3 Player
•
Video recorder
•
Household Devices
•
Digital/Cable TV
iii.
Graphical User
Interface (GUI)
Uses windows, icons, menus and
pointers (WIMP) which can be manipulated by a mouse (and often to an extent by
a keyboard as well).
Most suitable interface for
inexperienced or novice users but…
UIs use more system resources than
other types of interface
Many generic packages for a GUI will share
common features
•
Layout of the screen
•
Names given to commands
•
Icons
•
Order of menus
•
Mouse operation
•
Dialog boxes
Benefits
of a common interface
There
are five advantages to the
‘common user interface’:
•
Increased speed of learning
•
Ease of use
•
Confidence for novice users
•
Increase the range of solvable tasks by users
•
Greater range of software available to the
average computer user
iv.
Natural Language
Interface
Can range from simple command systems to voice
activated text processing. Commands are spoken in “normal” language.
Advantages
•
No training required – you just tell the
computer what you want to do!
•
Can be quicker than keyboard entry
•
Hands-free – could be invaluable in some
environments
•
Can be used by the disabled
Disadvantages
•
Emerging technology – still contains “bugs”
•
Difficulty dealing with homonyms
•
Difficult to recognise all the different ways
of saying things (and regional dialects)
•
Artificial languages are often more precise
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please do not enter any Spam link in the Comment box