EconomyEconomy

The rapid developments in computers and The rapid developments in computers and the features offered have changed the way the features offered have changed the way the economy operates. the economy operates.

Automation by interacting with computers Automation by interacting with computers enables greater productivity, which equals enables greater productivity, which equals reduced costs. reduced costs.

The range and accessibility of interfaces and The range and accessibility of interfaces and the input/output devices support employees the input/output devices support employees in the way in which they are able to interact in the way in which they are able to interact with computers i.e. adjusting a robotic with computers i.e. adjusting a robotic machine to cut sheet metal.machine to cut sheet metal.

Productivity per individualProductivity per individual

In the world of business, time is money. In the world of business, time is money.

Users being able to quickly and efficiently Users being able to quickly and efficiently input and respond to commands through input and respond to commands through interfaces results in greater productivity. interfaces results in greater productivity.

It takes less time and expertise to analyse It takes less time and expertise to analyse data by producing a graph using a wizard data by producing a graph using a wizard than to produce one without a wizard or than to produce one without a wizard or indeed without a computer. indeed without a computer.

When developing HCI you will need to When developing HCI you will need to consider how to reduce the amount of consider how to reduce the amount of effort or knowledge for the user to input effort or knowledge for the user to input and whether the use of text readers might and whether the use of text readers might be beneficial. be beneficial.

BT voice message which relays a text BT voice message which relays a text message sent to a land line. Although the message sent to a land line. Although the message is somewhat inhuman it does message is somewhat inhuman it does allow the recipient to listen to a message allow the recipient to listen to a message while carrying out another task. while carrying out another task.

Automatic Judgment of outputAutomatic Judgment of outputGrading of produce: apples, eggs or Grading of produce: apples, eggs or

potatoes by size and weight: they pass potatoes by size and weight: they pass along a conveyer belt containing holes- a along a conveyer belt containing holes- a predetermined grade of produce drops predetermined grade of produce drops through the hole, thus batching items of through the hole, thus batching items of equal size. equal size.

Computers are used to measure overall Computers are used to measure overall output: nuclear industry, processes use output: nuclear industry, processes use online monitoring systems to test chemical online monitoring systems to test chemical makeup and ensure quality. makeup and ensure quality.

Voice InputVoice Input

Voice input has provided organisations with the Voice input has provided organisations with the opportunity to reduce the need for call centres. opportunity to reduce the need for call centres.

Telephone banking: uses automated voice input to Telephone banking: uses automated voice input to request, record and relay bank account details request, record and relay bank account details for fielding. for fielding.

Utility suppliers – meter readingsUtility suppliers – meter readings

GPS (global satellite systems) respond to voice GPS (global satellite systems) respond to voice input – GPS instructs the user to turn right, go input – GPS instructs the user to turn right, go left etc. left etc.

An example of the user being part of the process. An example of the user being part of the process.

Thought InputThought Input

Some may say that since the Some may say that since the introduction of computers the introduction of computers the user has to think less?user has to think less?

Example “the computer says Example “the computer says NO…..” NO…..”

Working environmentWorking environment

Employees are experiencing an ever Employees are experiencing an ever changing working environment because of changing working environment because of advances in technology. In the 1980s fax advances in technology. In the 1980s fax machines had only just been introduced, machines had only just been introduced, mobile phones were the size of bricks and mobile phones were the size of bricks and very rare and most administrative tasks very rare and most administrative tasks were carried out manually with little help were carried out manually with little help from computers. from computers.

Shift in environmentShift in environment

Home and remote workingHome and remote working

Mobile communications – PDAs, mobile Mobile communications – PDAs, mobile phones, wireless internet connection, phones, wireless internet connection, BluetoothBluetooth