Human-computer interaction

Draft

Definition

• Human-computer interaction (HCI) is the study and the design of interaction between people and computers.

• Human-computer interaction is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them. [http://sigchi.org/cdg/cdg2.html (Hewett et al., 2004).

• Design methodologies in HCI aim to create user interfaces that are usable, i.e. that can be operated with ease and efficiency. However, an even more basic requirement is cognitive usability, ie. that the user interface be useful allowing the user to complete relevant tasks within a task environment.

Design methodologies

• User-centered designs (UCD), e.g. participatory design

Links

• Interaction-design.org Encyclopedia Contains some good introductory articles regarding various HCI domains. Good place to start.
• Wikipedia: Human computer interaction
• HCI Bibliography 'Lots of pointers (e.g. an index of 34000 articles, pointers to introductory books, some on-line texts)

References

Hewett, Baecker, Card, Carey, Gasen, Mantei, Perlman, Strong and Verplank (2004). ACM SIGCHI Curricula for Human-Computer Interaction, Chapter 2: Human-Computer Interaction HTML - retrieved 17:47, 9 June 2006 (MEST).