AS 92006�DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION
EXTERNAL, 5 CREDITS
What’s the Point of Having a Computer
With No-One to Use It?
Is this a complete computer system?
What’s the Point of Sitting at a Computer
And Not Actually Use It?
Boring!
A computer system includes a
Human, a Computer, and Interaction (HCI)
This is a complete computer system!
(Interface)
The computer alone isn’t the whole system.
The actual system involves a user, device, and an interface.
Interface
User
Device
All 3 need to work well for the system to work.
BTW - Here are some exam questions
Do you have to remember this?
Unfortunately, Mr Chuang is not 100% certain. Sometimes you get it on a resource/formula sheet. Sometimes you do need to remember them :/
You do get a formula sheet for the maths exam…
https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/nqfdocs/ncea-resource/exams/2023/91947-res-2023.pdf
For example
Human short term memory is around 8 seconds.
If a device delays for more than 8 seconds the user has to make a conscious effort to remember what they were doing, which makes the task harder.
If the software is hard to use then the user will find something else that is easier – so good HCI makes a marketable product.
There are 10 guidelines that can help us determine if an applications interface is good.
Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
A heuristic is a guideline – not hard and fast rules.
Applications don’t have to obey all the rules, but if the application is frustrating it is likely that it is going against one or more of the heuristics.
No one likes things that don’t make sense
Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #1: Visibility of system status
The system should always keep users informed about what is going on, through appropriate feedback within reasonable time.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #2: Match Between System & Real World
Speak the users’ language rather than system-oriented terms. Follow real-world conventions. Use natural and logical order.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #3: User Control and Freedom
Users make mistakes and need a clearly marked “emergency exit”. Support undo and redo.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #4: Consistency & Standards
Users should not have to wonder whether different words, situations, or actions mean the same thing. Follow platform conventions.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #5: Error Prevention
Design which prevents a problem from occurring in the first place. Provide an “Are you sure” option.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #6: Recognition Rather than Recall
Minimize user’s memory load by making options visible. The user should not have to remember information from one part to another.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #7: Flexibility and Efficiency of Use
Accelerators (shortcuts) often speed up interaction for the expert user. Allow users to tailor frequent actions.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #8: Aesthetic and Minimalist Design
Remove information which is irrelevant or rarely needed. Every extra unit of information competes with the relevant units of information and diminishes their relative visibility.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #9: Error Recovery
Error messages should be expressed in plain language (no codes),
precisely indicate the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.
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Nielson’s Ten Heuristics
Rule #10: Help and Documentation
It is better if the system can be used without documentation, but when needed help should be easy to search, focused on the user’s task, list concrete steps to be carried out, and not be too large.
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AS 91886�DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION
EXTERNAL, 3 CREDITS
A computer system includes a
Human, a Computer, and Interaction (HCI)
This is a complete computer system!