CMP2019M Human-Computer Interaction
Week 1 – Introduction
Structure
• Part I: About this module – Staff
– Lectures & Workshops – Assessment
• Part II: About HCI
– What is HCI?
– Interacting with computers – a history – Studying HCI – a history
Part I: About this module
Staff: Dr. Kathrin Gerling
• BSc Media Studies, Germany
• MSc Cognitive Science, Germany
• PhD Computer Science, Canada
• Research interests: Human-Computer Interaction, Accessibility, Games
• Module coordinator – contact info:
– kgerling@lincoln.ac.uk
– Surgery hours: Mondays, 13:30 – 15:00, MC 3115
Staff: Dr. Ben Kirman
• BScSoftwareEngineering
• MScComputerGamesTechnology • PhDSocialGameDesign
• ResearchInterests:CriticalDesign, Games, Animal-Computer Interaction
…and your demonstrators!
About this module
• 1 x 2 hour lecture
• 1 x 2 hour workshop
• You need to show up for the workshop you’re timetabled for – no swapping!
• You are expected to attend everything!
• Thisweek:noworkshops.
Topics
Week
Area
Lecture
1
Introduction
2
Core concepts
Cognition
3
Usability
4
Accessibility
5
Design
Requirements analysis & UCD
6
Prototyping
7
Evaluation
Introduction
8
Quantitative Methods
9
Data analysis I: Descriptives
10
Data analysis II: Testing
11
Qualitative Methods
12
Reflection and iteration
Workshops
• In most weeks you will be asked to carry out a theoretical and a practical task in the workshop
– Keep a log of what you have done, don’t just delete results once you’ve completed your work
• We expect you to attend all workshops – this is your time to ask your questions, and get in assessment prep time
Please bring pen & paper to lectures and workshops!
Assessment
• 100% exam-based at the end of the module
• Workshop tasks reflect exam tasks & prep you for it – this is why you need to attend workshops!
• Part theory, part practical tasks – again, reflected in workshop design
• Check Blackboard for exam date – non-negotiable!
Reading
• Core Concepts in HCI:
• InteractionDesign:Beyond Human-Computer Interaction, by Sharp, Rogers, & Preece
Reading
• Evaluation in HCI:
• ExperimentalHuman-Computer Interaction: A Practical Guide with Visual Examples, by
Helen Purchase
• Available as online resource!
Reading
• Philosophy and practice of user centered design:
• Experience-CenteredDesign: Designers, Users, and Communities in Dialogue,
by McCarthy & Wright
Part II:
About Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
What is HCI?
• What is HCI the study of? – Humans?
– Computers? – Interaction?
• Whywouldweneedtodothis? • Howdowedoit?
What is HCI?
• Basic definition: “The study, planning, and design of the interaction between people and computers.”
• Inherently multidisciplinary – involving computing, software engineering, psychology and cognitive science, social sciences…..
HCI – A History
• We’re going to look at a number of eras of computing technology
• Number of questions for each of these:
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– IBM Punch Card Tabulating Machine (1900s)
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Turing Machine
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Valve Computers
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Transistor Computers
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Integrated Circuits / Microprocessors / Programming languages
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Desktop Computers
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Gaming Consoles
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Social Media
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Mobile Computing
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Online Shopping
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
– Ubiquitous / Pervasive Computing
– What is this used for?
– Who is the expected user?
– What level of training / expertise is expected?
HCI – A History
• Moving from expert systems to widely available technology
• Pervasiveindailylives,necessarytoparticipatein society
• What are the emerging challenges?
– Air traffic control
– Who needs to be able to use this?
– What are consequences if you can’t interact?
– Government services
– Who needs to be able to use this?
– What are consequences if you can’t interact?
– VR gaming
– Who needs to be able to use this?
– What are consequences if you can’t interact?
Why study HCI?
• Regardless of how complex or useful a device is, you need to design it so that a user can use it to fulfill the functions it is supposed to fulfill
• HCI is interested in aspects related to hardware, software, and different user groups
Human Factors / Ergonomics
• Understanding the human element in design of technology
– Designing equipment and devices that fit the human body and its cognitive abilities
• NASA and IBM pioneered this work
• A lot of the concepts and methods in HCI are borrowed from engineering
Usability & Accessibility
• Started with the era of desktop computing, suddenly “usability” becomes a billion dollar industry
• The design of interfaces that allow people to do their work without being massively frustrated
• Basedoncognitivepsychology–understanding what people are capable of and comfortable with in terms of perception & memory
User Experience
• Putting the user at the centre of everything
– Requirements, design, prototyping, dev & evaluation
– Cognitive abilities, subjective experience, narratives, cultural impact
• Dialogueisthekey-constant,constructivedialogue between designers, users and communities
Topics
Week
Area
Lecture
1
Introduction
2
Core concepts
Cognition
3
Usability
4
Accessibility
5
Design
Requirements analysis & UCD
6
Prototyping
7
Evaluation
Introduction
8
Quantitative Methods
9
Data analysis I: Descriptives
10
Data analysis II: Testing
11
Qualitative Methods
12
Reflection and iteration
Reasons to care about HCI…
Job Market
Your Final Year Project
Do you have any questions?
Next week:
Core Concepts – Cognition
Remember:
Please bring pen & paper to lectures and workshops!