The Interaction: How The Computer World Has Impacted Human World (Essay Sample)

Human Computer Interaction Name: Institutional Affiliation: Date: Human Computer Interaction Human-computer interaction can be defined as an information processing activity that entails human interacting with technological devices including computers. When an individual decides to interact with a specific technological device, the user must have particular goals or sub-goals that they aim to achieve. Human-computer interaction shows the manner in which users interact with the system including the inputs and outputs. HCI comprises of three major parts including input mechanism, output mechanism, and navigation mechanism. Human-computer interaction is lately gaining significance because of various reasons. The primary reason is that approximately 55% of the current software utilizes user interface management, much user programming, and high user interactivity. A good HCI with an excellent user interface reduces high costs associated with interface challenges, high coding expenses, and serious, life-threatening activities. A good user interface also increases the number of products sold as well as the number of users. User Interface economics When the user interface is good systems sell highly for instance windows is a part of Macintosh interface while Mac interface forms part of Bravo. User interface capabilities and awareness help users get contracts. Characteristics of a good HCI design Different attributes make the user interface design excellent as outlined below; Affordances In any given artifact, affordance implies that the user interface design can describe the operations the user can perform by making all the activities visible. An example of affordance in HCI is the visible buttons of a computer that indicates to the user that they need to be pressed for the operation to be successful. Mappings The mapping functionality is significant as it showcases the relationship between the user operation and the action of the actual technology. A practical example of mapping is when the different fonts are presented in a defined form and shape to differentiate it from the others. Thus, a good interface design needs to exhibit good mapping. Mental models This can be defined as the obvious knowledge that the user has concerning the action of a specific technology hence having the knowledge that if a certain action is done what event is likely to follow. Forcing functions These are the designs that are aimed at prohibiting users from engaging in certain operations that may be inappropriate or may result in serious errors. An example of forcing action is for instance computers ‘menu bar which when inapplicable items are selected they pop out and prevent the selection. Feedback This involves the design of a user interface in a way that a visual or auditory response is provided spontaneously after the action of the user. Automatic Learning User Interface designs should be in such a way a user learns unwillingly through the screen displays, or repetitive operations of the user are offered by the technological device. For instance, when screens display confirmation of obvious steps, for instance, confirming saving a file. Principles for user interface design The tenets include content awareness, layout, user experience, consistency, aesthetics and minimal user effort. Layout Can be divided into three sections including navigation, status box, and info part. The layout is important as it minimizes the movements of the user hence giving areas intuitive flow. Interface standards design This entails the reusing of metaphors including the scrollbar, desktop, icons with different symbolization, for example, a house symbol for home page and arrow for selecting information. Interface Design prototyping This involves the process of simulating a screen through different methods including HTML prototype, storyboard as well as accurate presentation of prototypes using language. How to design user interfaces For input and output design which involves deciding the individuals who input data as well as when which can be done through batch input or batch output as well as interactive output/input? After an output/input design the...