Professional Courses
Industry-relevant training in Business, Technology, and Design
Categories
Interactive Games
Fun games to boost memory, math, typing, and English skills
Typing
Memory
Math
English Adventures
Knowledge
Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Micro Specialization
The module explores the practical application of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) theories through various Design Case Studies, particularly focusing on user needs, cognitive principles, and technological constraints. The case studies illustrate significant design challenges and solutions for improving usability and accessibility in interactive systems, emphasizing the iterative nature of HCI design and user-centric approaches.
Course Chapters
Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) forms a critical field focusing on the interaction between users and computers. The chapter outlines core definitions of HCI, its importance in usability, user experience, market competitiveness, and inclusivity. Historical perspectives detail the evolution of HCI from batch processing and command line interfaces to the development of graphical user interfaces and mobile computing, culminating in modern trends in AI and ethical considerations in design.
Interactive System Design
The chapter focuses on the principles and methodologies crucial for designing effective interactive systems. It emphasizes usability engineering, the integration of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with Software Engineering (SE), the essentials of Graphical User Interface (GUI) design, and the iterative process of prototyping. Key aspects discussed include defining usability, applying HCI throughout the software development lifecycle, and the importance of aesthetics in GUI design to enhance user experiences.
Model-based Design
Model-based Design is a systematic analytical approach in Human-Computer Interaction, focusing on predictive models that enhance interface design. The chapter covers the use of various quantitative models to evaluate user performance and interface efficiency, emphasizing the advantages and limitations of model-based evaluation compared to empirical methods. The Keystroke-Level Model (KLM) is highlighted for its utility in measuring expert user performance in routine tasks, along with the GOMS model for its more complex representations of user behavior.
Guidelines in HCI
This chapter provides a comprehensive exploration of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) guidelines, focusing on usability principles and evaluation methods. Key concepts include Norman's Seven Principles, Nielsen's Ten Usability Heuristics, and methods like Heuristic Evaluation and Contextual Inquiry, emphasizing their application in design. Understanding these frameworks enables designers to create user-friendly interfaces and identify usability issues effectively throughout the design lifecycle.
Empirical Research Methods in HCI
Empirical research plays a crucial role in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) by providing a structured approach to understanding user interactions with computing systems. It emphasizes the importance of data-driven design decisions, identification of usability issues, and the formulation of testable research questions. The chapter outlines the key aspects of designing empirical studies, including the determination of variables, experiment design, data analysis, and practical applications through a detailed case study.
Task Modeling and Analysis
Task modeling and analysis are crucial for understanding user interactions in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). This chapter explores Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) as a method for decomposing tasks, alongside Engineering Task Models like ConcurTaskTrees (CTT) which provide formal representations of user tasks. Both techniques aim to improve the design of user interfaces by clarifying the relationship between user actions and system responses.
Dialog Design
This module presents the intricate art and science of dialog design in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). It emphasizes the significance of formal methods, such as Finite State Machines (FSMs), Statecharts, and Petri Nets, in structuring interactions to improve reliability and usability. The discussion includes the advantages these formalisms provide in terms of precision, automating tool support, and effective communication among stakeholders while also addressing their inherent limitations when scaling to complex interactive systems.
Cognitive Architecture
Cognitive architecture serves as a framework for understanding the human mind as an information processing system. It focuses on how humans perceive, process, and act upon information, which is vital for designing user-centered interactive systems. The Model Human Processor (MHP), a significant cognitive architecture, consists of three fundamental processors - perceptual, cognitive, and motor - that interact with various memory stores to predict human performance and inform HCI design principles.
Object-Oriented Programming
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a transformative programming paradigm that organizes software design around 'objects' rather than sequences of operations on data. It emphasizes the importance of principles such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism, which enhance modularity, maintainability, and the capacity for code reuse. Object-Oriented Modeling (OOM) applies these principles specifically to User Interface (UI) design, enabling robust and intuitive representations of UI components for effective interaction.
Design - Case Studies
The module explores the practical application of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) theories through various Design Case Studies, particularly focusing on user needs, cognitive principles, and technological constraints. The case studies illustrate significant design challenges and solutions for improving usability and accessibility in interactive systems, emphasizing the iterative nature of HCI design and user-centric approaches.