Chapter Recap: Chapter 01

It is the beginning of the mid semester break. We will be doing short recaps of what we have learned during the past 7 weeks in order to make sure that we don't forget! For now, let's start with chapter one!

Chapter 1: Introduction to Human Computer Interaction.

Definition

a) HCI refers to the design and implementation of computer system that people interacts with
b) HCI is the study of all aspects of how users interact with a computer system.

1. Usability is made up for 5 components

• Learnability   - How steep is the learning curve
• Efficiency      - How good the system is at achieving its goal
• Memorability - How easily can user remember the control after a period of dormancy
• Errors            - What is the probability for a mistake to happen
• Satisfaction    - How do the users react to it affectively. 

2. Good UI is composed of 4 main elements

• Reliable and secure
• Design standardization
• Achieve intended task and performance
• Minimal training time

3. Fit Model

A fit between task specification, user skill and computer power will result in increase in performance

4. Human resource

Also refers to the user activity in performing a task. It comprises: 

• Cognitive resources
• Physical resources
• Affective resources

5. Task, Semantic, Syntactic and Lexical (TSSL) Model.

It is made up for 4 levels involved in performing a task, from defining the task itself until the way to perform it.

• Task - Defines the goal to be achieved (e.g. choosing a book from shelf)
• Semantic - Defines the object involved and its operation (e.g. book as object and looking as operation)
• Syntactic - Defines the rule that combines the semantic (e.g. look for the book by looking at the title of the books on the shelf, one by one.)
• Lexical - Defines how the syntactic level is done physically (e.g. Move to bookshelf, look at the books row by row and the picking the book out with hand)