Computer-Mediated Communication / Computercommunicatie A

1. Computer-Mediated Communication / Computercommunicatie A Master IK, CIW, MMI L.M. Bosveld-de Smet Hoorcollege 2; ma. 11 sept. 2006; 16.00-18.00

2. Human-computer interaction: terminology • In Glossary of Computing Terms • Computer system = complete collection of components (hardware, software, peripherals, power supplies, communication links) making up a single computer installation • Interface (in machine architecture) = hardware and associated software needed for communication between processors and peripheral devices, to compensate for the difference in their operating characteristics (see bus interface, interface board or card, …) • (User) interface (in hci, also called user environment) = a way for communication between the user and the computer • User interface = made up by the combination of those parts of the hardware and software of a system with which the user interacts

3. Human-computer interaction: terminology • Faulkner (1998): human-computer interface: • mediates between user and computer system • protects users from harsh realities of system • reflects system model to users • translates users’ intentions into appropriate system activity

4. User interfaces • Are described in a variety of ways, whose names highlight their main features • graphical user interface • menu selection interface • windows environment • forms dialogue • ….

5. Appropriate user interfaces • Choice of appropriate user interfaces depends on: • amount of information to be presented or elicited • experience of the users • familiarity of the particular software

6. Railway sites • Dutch Railways • Belgian Railways • German Railways • British Railways • French Railways

7. Testing railway sites • Interaction models: • Norman • Abowd & Beale • Interaction styles • Goal-oriented testing • tasks • interface actions

8. Results testing railway sites

9. Notable features • Extras Dutch site: • autocompletion station names • quick and advanced search • Characteristic German and French site: • guide users stepwise through journey planning process • British site: • only form-fill for buying ticket • worst appreciated site

10. Menus • Attractive alternatives to direct-manipulation strategies: • menu selection • form fillin • Modern menus: • pulldowns • check boxes • radio buttons in dialog boxes • embedded links in web pages

11. Effective menus • Menus elicit user recognition • Menu items can be • textual • graphic • auditory • Complex menus should be carefully designed • Primary goal: • relevancy to users’ tasks

12. Menus: design issues • Task-related organization • Phrasing of items • Sequence of items • Graphic lay-out and design • Response time • Shortcuts for knowledgeable frequent users • Online help • Error correction • Selection mechanisms

13. Menu design • Remember: there is no perfect menu structure • There are some guidelines

14. Menu Selection Guidelines (1) • Use task semantics to organize menus • single, linear sequence, tree structure, acyclic and cyclic networks • Prefer broad-shallow to narrow-deep • Show position by graphics, numbers, or titles • Use items as titles for subtrees • Group items meaningfully • Sequence items meaningfully

15. Menu Selection Guidelines (2) • Use brief items, begin with the key word • Use consistent grammar, layout, terminology • Allow type ahead, jump ahead, or other short cuts • Enable jumps to previous and main menu • Consider online help; novel selection mechanisms; and optimal response time, display rate, screen size