Question

Advantages of human computer interaction

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

Describe the role of HCI with Advantages and Disadvantages. "Human-computer interaction (HCI) is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers. ... 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