Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and the study of major phenomena surrounding them. HCI is important because computers are now integrated into many aspects of life beyond traditional computers, and poor user experience can lead customers to leave and be difficult to win back. Knowledge is partially contained in the head, world, and constraints, so HCI aims to design systems based on conceptual models that follow principles like visibility, mapping, constraints, affordance, feedback, consistency, and minimalism.

1. Human-Computer Interaction
Tarek Amr
@gr33ndata

2. What is Human-Computer Interaction?
● Human-computer interaction is a discipline
concerned with:
– Design
– Evaluation
– Implementation
● Of interactive computing systems for
human use and with the study of major
phenomena surrounding them.

3. Why is it Important?
● Computers aren't just computers anymore
(mobile phone, camera, car, washing machine,
etc.)
● For each £1 spent to acquire new
customer, £100 spent to acquire him back
if she left * (Bad user-experience? Customer
support?)
* Mauro New Media, 2002

4. Not all Knowledge is in The Head
● Knowledge is partially in:
– Head
– World
– Constrains
● Maps
● Poems rhyme
● Reassemble Toaster

5. Conceptual Model

6. Conceptual Model
Images taken from Jacques Carelman's
Catalogue d objets introuvables

7. Donald Norman's Principles
● Visibility
– Where's the knob?
● Mapping*
– [<<] Go to the right!
● Constrains*
– Can you plug a USB upside down?
– Drop-down menu showing available options only
● Affordability*
– Jug's handle affords holding
● Feedback
– AJAX Loading!?
● Consistency
– Answer call button is always green
– Mapping leads to consistency sometimes too

8. Minimalism in Art
● Started in the 1960's
● Art => Design => Science
● Principles of Minimalism in Art:
– Minimality of Means
– Minimality of Meaning
– Minimality of Structure
– Use of Patterns
– Involvement of the Recipient

9. Minimalism: Interactive Systems Design
Functional Structural Tool
Composition Architectural Context
Use Access
Minimalism: Designing Simplicity by Hartmut Obendorf

10. Thank You
You think slides are ugly!?
HCI is not about the beauty of the design, it's
rather about how usable it is :P