CUI Abbottabad
Department of Computer Science
Human Computer Interaction
Lecture
Lecture Topic: Introduction to HCI
COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus
OUTLINE

Understanding significance of HCI

Discussion on “Why HCI is Important”

Formal Definition of HCI

Understanding the paradox (contradictions) of computing
phenomena

Differentiate between focus of SE and HCI
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INTRODUCTION

Computers and its related technologies advancing by leaps
and bounds.

In early days they were very difficult to use and were at time
unpredictable.

Little was known about how to make them easier to use.
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INTRODUCTION CONT.

The development of the first personal computers in the 1970s was a major
landmark because machines provided interactive computing power to
individual users at low cost.

Computers are performing more and more TASKS now.

These changes in technology have opened up a wide range of new
possibilities for the way in which computers can be used.

Transaction processing for airlines, banks etc.
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INTRODUCTION CONT.

Computers have also found a place in many private homes.

In fact, such has been their pervasiveness (universality) that now just
about everyone, young or old, able or disabled, skilled or unskilled, is
using or is directly affected by computers in one way or another.
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RUN FOR YOUR LIVES

Run for your lives---invasion has begun---the computers are invading.

As computers are penetrating in our daily life, it has some results.

The bright side of this invasion:

o
Computers are enabling new discoveries
o
Leading to efficiencies
o
Making our life easy and convenient
Not so bright side:
o
Computers are annoying us
o
They even kill a few of us.
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REVENGE: KILL COMPUTERS

In turn, we will be tempted to kill our computers
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SOLUTION: IMPROVE INTERACTION
WITH COMPUTERS

But … We won’t dare because we are dependent on these hopeful
monsters that make modern life possible.

We need to fundamentally rethink how human and machines interact.

Rethink the relationship in deep and novel ways, as the fault of
burgeoning (increasing) problems lies not with our machines, but with
us.
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WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS A
COMPUTER WITH AN AIRPLANE?

1995, American Airlines Flight 965, 152 passengers killed, 8 crew
members perished.

Reason: While selecting next navigation fix, named “ROZO”, he
entered an “R”.

Pilot selected the first of these, whose latitude and longitude
appeared to be correct.

Unfortunately, instead of “ROZO”, the pilot selected “ROMEO”, 132
miles to the northeast.

Following indications on the flight computer, the pilots began an
easterly turn and slammed into a granite peak at 10,000 feet.

Answer: Computer
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WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS
A COMPUTER WITH A CAMERA?

Answer: Computer

A camera perform a simple functionality of taking pictures.

30 years ago, a 35mm Pentax Model H, had a small battery in it to
power the light meter.

15 years ago, a 35mm Canon T70, used two AA batteries , simple
exposure computer and its automatic film drive. Simple on/off switch

Newest camera, a Nikon CoolPix 900,

On/Off
switch has
Off/ARec/MRec/Play
now
grown
to
have
four
settings:
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ROLE OF HCI

Human designed the interfaces we hate;

Human continue to use dysfunctional machines even as the
awkward interfaces strain their eyes, ache their backs, and ruin
their wrist tendons.

HCI plays a role to bridge up the gap between the interfaces of
machines and human understanding that we have seen in the
previous examples.
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DEFINITION OF HCI
“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” ACM/IEEE
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REASONS FOR MISHAPS: AEROPLANE

In the literal definition of the phrase, this was indeed human
error, because the pilot selected the wrong fix.

However, in the larger picture, it was not the pilot’s fault at all.

The front panel of the airplane’s navigation computer showed
the currently selected navigation fix and a course deviation
indicator.
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EXAMPLE CONT.

When the plane is on course, the needle is cantered, but the
needle gives no indication whatsoever about the correctness of
the selected radio beacon (example).

The gauge looks pretty much the same just before landing as it
does just before crashing.

The computer told the pilot he was tracking precisely to the
beacon he had selected.
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EXAMPLE CONT.

Unfortunately, it neglected to tell him the beacon (guiding) the
selection was a fatal choice.

The flight computer on Flight 965 could easily have told the
pilots that ROMEO was not an appropriate fix for their approach
to Cali.

Even a simple hint that it was “unusual” or “unfamiliar” could
have saved the airplane.
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FACTS & NO INFORMATION

Microsoft Software Engineer Joke

Communication can be precise and exacting while still
being tragically wrong.

This happens all too frequently when we communicate
with computers, and computers are invading every aspect
of our modern lives.
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FACTS & NO INFORMATION CONT.

From the planes we fly to just about every consumer product
and service, computers are ubiquitous (global), and so is their
characteristically poor way of communicating and behaving.

I-Drive Car Device Example(Mercedes)
o
1 knob with 8 buttons and 100 of functionalities, Display on
the screen
o
Driving is very difficult, 15 minutes to tune radio
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THE HUMAN

Human beings are the most interesting and fascinating &
complex specie on planet.

It has very much diversity in its nature.

It is intelligent in its deeds.

Human beings think and decide according to their own will.

They think on a problem dynamically and they can find many
solutions that may not exist before.
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THE HUMAN CONT.

They can invent.

They are not only rational but they also have emotions.

They also think emotionally.

They act emotionally.
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THE HUMAN CONT.

Information i/o …
o

Information stored in memory
o

visual, auditory, haptic, movement
sensory, short-term, long-term
Information processed and applied
o
reasoning, problem solving, skill, error

Emotion influences human capabilities

Each person is different
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