Human-computer interaction

Human-computer interaction

1. The communication between people and computer systems

   • Needs a human-computer interface

2. Graphical User Interface (GUI)

   • Features
     • Windows
     • Icons
     • Pointers
     • Menus
     • Customisation
     • Tutorials
   • Benefits
     • Easy to navigate
     • No complicated commands
     • Uses visual tools such as windows and icons
   • Drawbacks
     • Needs large amount of memory
     • Processor intensive
     • Slower than CLI

3. Command Line Interface (CLI)

   • Entirely text-based
     • Requires user to type in commands
   • Benefits
     • Quicker to input commands as shortcuts can be used
     • Little storage space required
     • Experts find it fast to use - commands memorized
   • Drawbacks
     • Confusing for novices - hard to use
     • Commands have to be typed precisely
     • Instructions cannot be guessed

4. Input devices for those with physical disabilities

   • Braille keyboard
     • Used by people with visual impairment
     • Keyboard has raised patterns to match Braille letters to allow users to type commands into a computer
   • Voice input/recognition
     • Used by people that have difficulty using a keyboard
     • Computer translates speech into text
   • Joystick
     • Used by people with limited movement
     • Allows a cursor to be controlled like a mouse pointer to select commands