HCI

HCI

1. HCI is where both computer and Human meet

2. its takes into account the expected ICT skills of the users; within the design

3. Command-line interface

   • Users can type in different ways. used in the early stages of computers; suitable for mostly skilled ICT users
     • Sound and speech interfaces
       • A microphone is used as an input device
         • The user speaks commands into the computer
       • It is mostly aimed at people with disabilities, who no hands free to operate
       • Advantage
         • It can be used without hands
       • Disadvantage
         • The user may have difficulties, as everyone speaks different so the computer ay not be able to register and follow commands

4. Menu – driven interface

   • displays an option; for the user to select. much more user friendly as it doesn't take as much knowledge of computers as some others, as it doesn't have to be remembered
     • Touch-sensitive interface
       • Some devices work by a user touching them, ainly in places ore vunerable to theft
       • Also used in places, available for public use
       • Advantages
         • Only a low level of ICT skills is needed to use it.
         • There is little possibility of damage or theft
         • They can be used in environments where gloves are necessary and so a keyboard cannot easily be used.
       • Disadvantages
         • It si more likely to become dirty

5. Graphical user interface (GUI):

   • HCI is mostly refered as a user interface, it varies ways in which a human can interact with a computer; by following instructions
     • Menu driven interface
       • Some commands and their options can be very complex, so high-level ICT skills are needed.
       • A list of options is shown on the screen; usually selected using the mouse by clicking on it
       • Data can be organised and sorted
       • Some sub-menus can then also have further sub-menus too
       • Advantages of Menu driven interface
         • There is an option of using an navigation tool; shortcut to finding files
         • You are not required to remember instructions
         • users are restricted t a certain amount of options
       • Disadvantages
         • Some options in a menu may not mean anything to the user.
         • It can be difficult to find options if there are many menus and sub-menus.
   • Small pictures are used to represent options that the user can select.
   • A switch, \W, specifies that the filenames are to be shown across the screen, some of these however can be quite complex
     • On-screen help
       • Many interfaces provide assistance in the form of on-screen help.
       • Most software offers some form of help; related to the topic
       • Older versions of Microsoft office used an office assistant

6. Voice interface

   • Thisuses a microphone; where the user can speak instructions

7. Special devices

   • Software companies design user interfaces to make their programs as easy to use as possible, and they try to make the different programs they create as similar as possible, so that users are familiar with the way they work.
   • E.g. braille keyboards, “Concept keyboards” with overlays places on the keyboards, touch-sensitive screens, puff-suck switched and foot switches allow input for people with no arm movement.

8. Command-line interface

   • The user types in a command at a prompt character. The operating system then executes this command. used very early on
   • Some of the commands may have “switches” to provide options for the command. such as; file, under DOCS
     • Graphical user interface
       • Most modern computer operating systems use a graphical user interface (GUI).
       • It uses small picture used for icons to represent instructions for the user
       • Modern operating systems use WIMP environments such as: Window Icon Menu Pointer

9. advantages of a command-line

   • Instructions execute quickly
   • Instructions are versatile - meaning the user can select a large number of options for each instruction
     • Point-of-sale interface
       • Checkout tills are mostly linked to a computer, this is used to store data
       • the data is inputted using an barcode reader

10. disavantages

    • requires you to remember special instructions
    • very sensitive; one mistake will cause the whole thing to go wrong