HCI Notes - Unit 3
HCI Notes - Unit 3
HCI Notes - Unit 3
SYLLABUS
Textbooks:
1. Dix A., Finlay J.,Abowd G. D. and Beale R. Human Computer Interaction, 3 rd edition,
Pearson Education, 2005
References:
1. Yvonne Rogers, Helen Sharp, Jennifer Preece; Interaction Design 3 rd Edition Wiley 2011.
2. Preece J., Rogers Y.,Sharp H.,Baniyon D., Holland S. and Carey T. Human Computer
Interaction,Addison-Wesley, 1994.
3. B.Shneiderman; Designing the User Interface,Addison Wesley 2000 (Indian Reprint).
NPTEL Course https://nptel.ac.in/content/syllabus_pdf/106103115.pdf
Observation: At this phase an idea is sparked for proposing a hypothesis. During this phase
empirical data is gathered using observation. For example: a particular species of flower bloom
in a different color only during a specific season.
Induction: Inductive reasoning is then carried out to form a general conclusion from the data
gathered through observation. For example: As stated above it is observed that the species of
flower blooms in a different color during a specific season. A researcher may ask a question
“does the temperature in the season cause the color change in the flower?” He can assume that is
the case, however it is a mere conjecture and hence an experiment needs to be set up to support
this hypothesis. So he tags a few set of flowers kept at a different temperature and observes if
they still change the color?
Deduction: This phase helps the researcher to deduce a conclusion out of his experiment. This
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has to be based on logic and rationality to come up with specific unbiased results.For example: In
the experiment, if the tagged flowers in a different temperature environment do not change the
color then it can be concluded that temperature plays a role in changing the color of the bloom.
Testing: This phase involves the researcher to return to empirical methods to put his hypothesis
to the test. The researcher now needs to make sense of his data and hence needs to use statistical
analysis plans to determine the temperature and bloom color relationship. If the researcher finds
out that most flowers bloom a different color when exposed to the certain temperature and the
others do not when the temperature is different, he has found support to his hypothesis. Please
note this not proof but just a support to his hypothesis.
Evaluation: This phase is generally forgotten by most but is an important one to keep gaining
knowledge. During this phase the researcher puts forth the data he has collected, the support
argument and his conclusion. The researcher also states the limitations for the experiment and his
hypothesis and suggests tips for others to pick it up and continue a more in-depth research for
others in the future.
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Task
A set of human actions that contributes to a functional objective and to the goal of the
system.
Task analysis defines performance of humans & not computers.
Task Analysis means understanding User’s needs, sequencing them into a series of
hierarchical acts (interactions) so as to facilitate the achieving of the goal.
There is a sequence and a hierarchy of actions to be followed. One cannot go to the next
step in making calls unless the previous one is complete.
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Abstract task: These refer to tasks whose subtasks are of different types (e.g., one user
task and one application task) or the task type is not yet decided
o It is graphically depicted with the symbol
CTT provides facilities to take care of more task characteristics, namely iterative tasks
and optional tasks
o An iterative task T is denote by T *
o An optional task T is denoted by [T]
Choice operator ([ ]): if two tasks T1 and T2 are related by the operator as T[ ]T2,
it means that both T1 and T2 are enabled, however, only one can be performed at a
time
Example: you can either browse a web site or follow a link for details
Enabling with information passing operator ([ ]>>): if two tasks T1 and T2 are related
by the operator as T[ ]>>T2, it means that T2 can’t be performed before T1 and depends
on the results of T1
Example: a system can generate result only after user specifies query. The result
depends on the query
Concurrent operator (|||): if two tasks T1 and T2 are related by the operator as T|||T2, it
means that T1, T2 can be performed at any time, in any order
Example: to check the overall course load, we need to check the semester as well as the
course workload
Concurrent communicating operator (|[ ]|): if two tasks T1 and T2 are related by
the operator as T|[]|T2, it means that T1, T2 can be performed concurrently and can
exchange information
Example: an onscreen calendar highlighting dates being entered by the user
Task independence operator (|=|): if two tasks T1 and T2 are related by the operator as
T|=|T2, it means that T1, T2 can be performed independent to one another, however,
when one starts, it has to finish before the other can start
Example: when installing a new software, you can either register and then install or
vice-versa
Disabling operator ([>): if two tasks T1 and T2 are related by the operator as T
[>T2, it means that T1 (usually iterative) is completely interrupted by T2
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Example: a user can iteratively input data in a form until it is sent
Suspend-resume operator (|>): if two tasks T1 and T2 are related by the operator as
T|>T2, it means T1 can be interrupted by T2. When T2 ends, T1 can resume
from where it stopped
Example: editing some data and then printing it, assuming the two can’t be performed
together
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