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Human-computer interaction: Introduction and overview

Conference Paper · January 1995

DOI: 10.1145/632716.632781 · Source: DBLP

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CHI 98 l 18-23 APRIL 1998 ACM ISBN l-581 13-028-7 TlJlDruALs

Human-Computer Interaction: Introduction and Overview

Keith A. Butler Robert J.K. Jacob Bonnie E. John
Boeing Information and Tufts University Carnegie Mellon University
Support Services Medford, Mass. 02155 Pittsburgh, Pa. 152 13
Seattle, Wash. 98 124

ABSTRACT engineering paradigm that is common to many other fields

The objective of this special introductory seminar is to can be generalized to a technical approach for engineering
provide newcomersto Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) usability in computing systems [l] and is now in
with an introduction and overview of the field. The widespread use [2]. The paradigm follows an iterative
material will begin with a brief history of the field, cycle through analysis, design, implementation, and
followed by presentation and discussion of how good evaluation. Usability engineering structures human factors
application development methods pull on the activity to work within software engineering projects.
interdisciplinary technologies of HCI. The topics will Development of usable systems draws on technologies
include the psychology of human-computer interaction, from user interface media, software architecture, process
psychologically-based design methods and tools, user and data modeling, standards, and tools for modeling,
interface media and tools, and introduction to user building and testing user interfaces. Each can be a topic of
interface architecture. researchor application. These technologies will be covered
Keywords in the following sections on the psychology of HCI and the
Human-computer interaction, usability engineering, computer scienceof HCI.
human performance engineering, cognitive modeling, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HCI
theory, analysis methods, interaction styles, interaction Information about human performance enters into the
hardware, user interface software, user interface design of user interfaces from three sources:empirical data
managementsystems. about human performance, theories of performance, and
INTRODUCTlON methods of observing and analyzing HCI systems. This
The rapid growth of computing has made effective human- portion of the overview will introduce each of these
computer interaction essential. It is important for the sources,the benefits of using them, and potential pitfalls to
growing number of computer users whose professional be avoided.
schedules will not allow the elaborate training and The empirical data of human performance can be
experience that was once necessaryto take advantage of classified as being either basic (collected in the service of
computing. Increased attention to usability is also driven basic psychology, usually in laboratory administered,
by competitive pressuresfor greater productivity, the need knowledge-lean tasks) and applied (collected in the service
to reduce frustration, and to reduce overhead costs such as of human factors design problems, often on realistic tasks).
user training. As computing affects more aspects of our Further, these data can be classified as being about
lives the need for usable systems becomes even more individual performance or group performance. A source
important. book containing summaries of much useful data, and
DESlGNlNG FOR HCI referencesto many more sources, called The Engineering
Design in HCI is more complex than in many other fields Data Compendium [3], will be referred to extensively for
of engineering. It is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing examplesof such data and how it can be usedin design.
on and influencing diverse areas such as computer A seminal source of both a useful theory of human
graphics, software engineering, human factors and performance and methods of analyzing HCI tasks is The
psychology. Furthermore, the developer’stask of making a Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction [4]. This
complex system appear simple and sensible to the user is session will introduce the GOMS method of analysis
in itself a very difficult, complex task detailed in that work and several other cognitive- and
The principles for applying human factors to machine system-modelingtechniques that have arisen in the decade
interfaces became the topic of intense applied research its publication. These techniques can be used to predict the
during the 1940’s, when equipment complexity began to usability and learnability of systemsbefore they are built.
exceed the limits of human ability for safe operation. We will discuss how to use these techniques in concert
However, the complexity of computing and of software with rapid-prototyping and empirical testing for the benefit
development projects pose additional demands. An of an HCI design. We will present a directory of ongoing

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 TUTORIALS ACM ISBN l-581 13-028-7 CHI 98 .18-23 APRIL 1998

research in both psychological theory and analysis and interaction techniques for using devices to perform
methods within the CHI community so that participants tasks in an interface.
will know where to look for theories and methods In a graphical direct manipulation style of user interface, a
applicable to their design problems. set of objects is presented on a screen, and the user has a
THE COMPUTER SCIENCE OF HCI repertoire of manipulations that can be performed on any
As progress in HCI is making user interfaces easier to of them. This means that the user has no command
learn and use, they are becoming more difficult to build. language to remember beyond the standard set of
Simple command line interfaces were difficult to use but manipulations, few cognitive changes of mode, and a
easy to program. Modern direct manipulation and virtual reminder of the available objects and their states shown
environment interfaces are easier to understand and use, continuously on the display. Examples are spreadsheets,
but harder to program, largely because they have more the Xerox Star desktop and its descendants such as the
possible execution paths. The area of Computer Sciencein Apple Macintosh, and, of course, many video games.
HCI studies and develops the abstractions, techniques, Recent work has carried the user’s illusion of manipulating
languages,and tools to addressthis problem. This section real objects still further. By coupling a the motion of the
of the overview discussesresearch and practice in the field user’shead to changes in the images presented on a head-
of user interface software [5]. mounted display, the illusion of being surrounded by a
An important concept in user interface software is to world of computer-generated images or a virtual
separatethe design of an interactive system into distinct environment is created. Hand-mounted sensors allow the
levels, i.e., the conceptual, semantic, syntactic, and lexical user to interact with these images as if they were real
levels, and to develop a design for each level [6]. Another objects located in spacesurrounding him or her.
significant concept is the user interface management REFERENCES
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