HCI

HCI

1. Factors to consider when designing an HCI

   • House style/ethos
     • E.g.So that it conveys who the organisation is and all the company documents look/feel the same
   • Location of where its used
     • e.g. No sound in a noisy area. Touch screens in museums / factories / etc (with explanation of why).
   • Layout appropriate to the task
     • e.g. Large/minimal text for a child to minimise reading which builds up user confidence./ Bright colour scheme to attract a young child’s attention.
   • Clear navigational structure
     • e.g. It speeds things up if there is a similar route through the programs (if it is clear) as users do not have to keep learning things / Helps users learn their way around the system.
   • On Screen / online helpfiles
     • tool tips telling the user what to do / interactive user manual that answers general FAQ.
   • Disabled Access
     • e.g. If a person is blind then the computer could recognise voice input / Braille keyboard.
   • Expertise of the user
     • An expert user will need shortcuts so that the task can be completed as quickly as possible whereas a novice will need a number of steps to guide them.

2. How it would help a disabled person (state and explain how helped)

   • Use of correct colour schemes for colourblind people.
   • Use of speech recognition rather than keyboard/mouse for those who cannot use their arms
   • Magnify areas of the screen for people with poor eyesight.
   • If a person is visually impaired, then ICT can help them by getting the computer to speak the words when they are being typed in.
   • Visual messages on screen instead of sound for the deaf.
   • Use large mouse or trackerball for people with poor co-ordination.

3. Designing for Novice/Expert

   • Needs of Novice
     • The novice user’s priority will be ease of learning.
       • How can be met
         • Could provide tutorials for novice users / Novices will need easy access to help.
           • Novice users tend to stick to the mouse/touch screen / Graphical user interface (gui)
             • Step by step approach / novice users should never be left wondering what to do next.
   • Needs of Expert
     • The expert user will want to get the job done in the shortest possible time
       • Needs can be met
         • Provide shortcuts for experts / command line interface.
           • Experts often type at high speed and can memorise key combinations and this is faster than using the mouse and clicking on icons.

4. Factors for designing for young kids

   • Have a minimum amount of text on screen
   • Use child friendly font/size of font
   • Use bright colours to attract the child’s attention
   • Have an uncluttered appearance
   • Animation/videos to keep their interest
   • Interactivity e.g. quizzes, educational games
   • Visual prompts e.g. pictures of a cat