Guidelines in HCI - Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Micro Specialization
Students

Academic Programs

AI-powered learning for grades 8-12, aligned with major curricula

Professional

Professional Courses

Industry-relevant training in Business, Technology, and Design

Games

Interactive Games

Fun games to boost memory, math, typing, and English skills

Guidelines in HCI

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.

40 sections

Sections

Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.

  1. 4
    Guidelines In Hci

    This section examines foundational guidelines and evaluation methods in...

  2. 4.1
    Lecture 1: Norman's Seven Principles

    Donald Norman's Seven Principles provide foundational guidelines for...

  3. 4.1.1
    Discoverability

    Discoverability in HCI emphasizes how easily users can perceive possible...

  4. 4.1.2

    This section covers the importance of feedback in human-computer...

  5. 4.1.3

    This section on affordances discusses how design elements communicate their...

  6. 4.1.4

    Signifiers provide explicit clues that guide users on how to interact with...

  7. 4.1.5

    Mapping in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) establishes essential...

  8. 4.1.6

    This section discusses the concept of constraints in Human-Computer...

  9. 4.1.7
    Conceptual Models

    Conceptual models are essential for understanding how users perceive and...

  10. 4.2
    Lecture 2: Norman's Model Of Interaction

    This section discusses Donald Norman's Model of Interaction, which outlines...

  11. 4.2.1
    The Execution Phase (Transforming Intentions Into Actions)

    This section explores the Execution Phase of user interaction, detailing how...

  12. 4.2.2
    The Gulf Of Execution

    The Gulf of Execution refers to the gap between a user's intentions and the...

  13. 4.2.3
    The Evaluation Phase (Interpreting System Feedback And State)

    The Evaluation Phase focuses on how users interpret the feedback from...

  14. 4.2.4
    The Gulf Of Evaluation

    This section discusses the Gulf of Evaluation, which is the gap between a...

  15. 4.2.5
    Designing To Bridge The Gulfs

    The section discusses how to bridge the gaps in user interaction with...

  16. 4.3
    Lecture 3: Nielsen's Ten Heuristics With Examples Of Its Use

    This section explores Jakob Nielsen's Ten Usability Heuristics, providing a...

  17. 4.3.1
    Visibility Of System Status

    This section emphasizes the importance of maintaining transparency between...

  18. 4.3.2
    Match Between System And The Real World

    This section explores how user interfaces should align with users'...

  19. 4.3.3
    User Control And Freedom

    User control and freedom in HCI emphasizes the importance of providing users...

  20. 4.3.4
    Consistency And Standards

    This section emphasizes the importance of consistency and standards in...

  21. 4.3.5
    Error Prevention

    Error prevention involves designing interfaces to reduce the likelihood of...

  22. 4.3.6
    Recognition Rather Than Recall

    This section emphasizes minimizing cognitive load by designing systems that...

  23. 4.3.7
    Flexibility And Efficiency Of Use

    This section discusses how user interfaces can be designed to accommodate...

  24. 4.3.8
    Aesthetic And Minimalist Design

    This section discusses the importance of aesthetic and minimalist design in...

  25. 4.3.9
    Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, And Recover From Errors

    This section discusses the importance of providing clear error messages and...

  26. 4.3.10
    Help And Documentation

    This section addresses the importance of help and documentation in improving...

  27. 4.4
    Lecture 4: Heuristic Evaluation

    Heuristic Evaluation is an expert-based usability inspection method that...

  28. 4.4.1
    The Systematic Process Of Heuristic Evaluation

    The systematic process of heuristic evaluation outlines a structured method...

  29. 4.4.2
    Advantages Of Heuristic Evaluation (Why It's A Go-To Method)

    Heuristic evaluation is a cost-effective and efficient usability inspection...

  30. 4.4.3
    Limitations Of Heuristic Evaluation (Important Considerations)

    Heuristic evaluation is an effective usability method with several inherent...

  31. 4.5
    Lecture 5: Contextual Inquiry And Cognitive Walkthrough

    This section explores Contextual Inquiry and Cognitive Walkthrough as...

  32. 4.5.1
    Contextual Inquiry: Understanding Users In Their Natural Habitat

    Contextual Inquiry is a qualitative research method used to understand user...

  33. 4.5.1.1
    Core Principles Of Contextual Inquiry

    Contextual Inquiry is a qualitative user research method aimed at...

  34. 4.5.1.2
    The Process Of Contextual Inquiry

    Contextual Inquiry is a user-centered research method focusing on observing...

  35. 4.5.1.3
    Advantages Of Contextual Inquiry

    Contextual Inquiry is an ethnographic research method that provides deep...

  36. 4.5.1.4
    Disadvantages Of Contextual Inquiry

    This section discusses the disadvantages of using Contextual Inquiry as a...

  37. 4.5.2
    Cognitive Walkthrough: Evaluating Learnability Step-By-Step

    The Cognitive Walkthrough method is a usability inspection technique...

  38. 4.5.2.1
    The Process Of Cognitive Walkthrough

    The Cognitive Walkthrough is a structured usability inspection method...

  39. 4.5.2.2
    Advantages Of Cognitive Walkthrough

    Cognitive Walkthrough is a method for evaluating the usability of...

  40. 4.5.2.3
    Disadvantages Of Cognitive Walkthrough

    Cognitive walkthroughs, while useful in usability testing, come with several...

What we have learnt

  • Norman's principles enhance user interface design by focusing on discoverability, feedback, affordances, and constraints.
  • Nielsen's heuristics provide a toolkit to evaluate usability without extensive user testing.
  • Heuristic Evaluation and Contextual Inquiry are critical methods for understanding user interaction and refining designs.

Key Concepts

-- Discoverability
The extent to which users can perceive the available actions possible in a system.
-- Feedback
The information provided by a system to inform users about the results of their actions.
-- Affordances
Properties that suggest how an object can be used or interacted with in an interface.
-- Usability Heuristics
General rules of thumb for evaluating the usability of interfaces.
-- Heuristic Evaluation
An expert-based usability inspection method to identify usability problems in a user interface.
-- Contextual Inquiry
A qualitative research method that involves observing and interviewing users in their natural environment.

Additional Learning Materials

Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.