Principles of HCI BY TOM CLEAVES

Perception

In order for the device to be user friendly a designer or developer has to make sure that they create something that the user can understand no matter who they are.

For example if they create an application and so not approach it from the point of view of the user, then the app will only be effectively used by designers and developers who understand the mind set of a person in a similar profession.

The different perceptions that various people have must be catered for, for example people use the Facebook app for business and socialising and so have different reasons for using the app but the design has to be generalised to make sure both parties can use it effectively.

Colours

The colours used in the design of something is key in terms of human computer interaction.

The way humans view things and their feelings on it are very important as they will judge things by the look of them. For example if a website lacks colour or fonts and therefore looks quite boring viewers will be disappointed and less enticed to revisit the website.

so it is important for designers to use suitable colours so that things like text and pictures can be seen clearly and without problems. For example if somebody is colour blind and you use black text on a white background it will be easier for someone with this impairment to read the text.

Information processing

How the information is processed and how fast it can be done.

This is a very human orientated side of HCI, it involves comparing human thought processes with that of a computer in order to create better HCI.

By treating computers and humans as two sides of the same coin it allows us to create more efficient means of communication between the two sides.

Without this information being processed into something humans understand, then it would means humans would have to learn a different language every time they use a new device (e.g. tablet).

Behavioural Models

In order to create a new device or interface a model or template is usually used, by using a model or template you have the foundations of a product and this reduces the thought process in the design stage of the product which cuts costs and increases productivity saving the computer development money and resources.

Predictive model

This model is used when creating a new input device.

E.g. a Mouse is an input device and the model for it has 2 states .

The first state is the tracking which figures out the best way to make the mouse move around the screen (e.g. track ball)

The second state is dragging which involves an object being or not being moved.

These states are used by programs to figure out the input that is being applied to the computer from the input device and then what to do next after that input has been completed.

TP/Thoughput This is model is used in order to see how long it takes for detailed data to

transfer from one location to another.

In order to calculate how long it takes for the data to be transferred, an algorithm is used.

The algorithm measures the transfer speed by bits per second & kilobits per second.

This model is commonly used for data transfer from one disc location to another.

Specialism This principle is about the Designers taking into account end users that

may need specialist requirements to use the device or interface effectively due to a disability, illness or is uneducated.

For example when creating instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp, there may be users who cannot read English but can speak it and understand it when it is spoken, to make WhatsApp accessible for people who cannot read, they have developed a way for you to send a voice message which will contain your voice instead of paragraph of text.

Mobile phone

Smart phones have become the norm in recent years with various mobile phone companies producing many different models from HTC to Samsung.

Touch screen interaction has created a massive market and arguably a much easier way to be use your phone.

But the next step for mobile devices is a very hot topic in the IT industry as tech giants Apple have recently released the iWatch and Microsoft have released the Microsoft Band.

These devices show that interaction between mobile devices and their users is changing, but what is the next step?

Inputs

Inputs refer to what will be put into the mobile phone or how will people be able to change things on the mobile phone. For example to access an iPhone you have to use your fingers to access the keyboard and input text.

One way that the HCI of mobile phones can be improved is by including a fingerprint scanner so that it is easier for someone to access their mobile phone. Sometimes people can forget their passwords or passcodes and then cannot access their phones. With a fingerprint scanner all you need is your fingerprint and the phone will open.

This increases security on your mobile phone as no one else apart from you can access it and so thieves wont be able to get into your phone and get any of your information that might be stored on your phone.

Outputs Holographic display gauntlets much like Microsoft band

Smart phones have incredibly detailed HD screens at he moment, due to the high concentration on pixels, however to further improve the visuals of the smartphone you could incorporate a 4k or 2K screen.

A 4K screen smartphone was recently created by Japan’s Sharp and it was a 5.5in phone that packed 806 pixels per inch. These screens would make the display and media of mobile phones better which could improve the ease of use for people with bad eye sight as the highly detailed screen will help those who are short sighted to have a better viewing experience, instead of becoming complacent about not being able to see the TV.

Another technology that would improve the HCI of mobiles is a Self-Aware camera that will automatically know things from the picture you are taking. For example it would be able to detect a scene, know if the picture is being taken indoors or outdoors, be able to tag your friends in a picture and even know what brand of clothes you are wearing (e.g. TopMan). This would make pictures clearer and easier to understand, furthermore it would allow people to make connections between what's in the picture and where you can get it from.

Next Gen Games console The newest generation of consoles are the Xbox One and PS4 which have been

very popular.

With this generation of games console you can play games in a variety of ways. Thanks to motion sensor technology, you can now play a game with or without a controller through a conventional controller or with the motion sensor abilities of the consoles:

Xbox Kinect

PlayStation Move

Inputs In order to improve the HCI of a games console and improve the

gaming experience for the user there are a few HCI inputs & outputs that could be initiated.

Full virtual reality:

Players could be put their consciousness into game, making it feel like a dream making it a complete virtual world. You would be able to so whatever you liked in this virtual world and create anything through thought. This is a very science fiction kind of technology however it is in development under the name of Neurogaming.

One example of this kind of gaming in popular culture is the children's franchise Spy Kids 3: game over (right)

Inputs

A more achievable goal would be to do virtual reality with such devices as Oculus Rift or Virtuix omni.

These devices have headsets and a gaming station which allows you to become completely immersed into the gaming world.

For example if you were to play a blockbuster first person Shooter like Battlefield 4 (bottom) you would be able to get more into the game as you will have the gun in yourightr hand and you will feel more like a soldier as you move around the map and pull a real trigger on enemies.

The Virtuix Omni could feature body armour that stuns

or vibrates you when your hit by an enemy, this would make

The game feel more real.

Outputs

This virtual world of gaming could be viewed by audiences on the outside world, this would create a new market for streaming companies like Twitch and would give competitive gamers a new mode in which to compete in.

The virtual world in Virtuix Omni will have a head visual display and the gun used could give out a vibration every time its shot so that the player has the sensation of recoil.

For a specialist need When creating a new product, companies have to take into consideration everyone who can

use the device. So it is key for companies to make sure that the device is user friendly to those who may be disabled in some way and so may require specialist software or hardware.

One example of a specialist need of my wrist band holographic phone would be a vitals regulator which would look at the wearers heart rate, pulse oximeter to measure the oxygen saturation of their blood, an electro dermal response sensor to monitor changes in the skin electrical resistance and a perspiration sensor to detect sweat levels.

With this data the device will know the mood of the person, for example somebody who suffers from bad anger management will be told when they are getting too hot under the collar. The device will then provide a holographic notice to the wearer warning them of their stress levels or anger levels. This can help somebody know when they are too stressed or too angry and gives people with these issues a notice to stop what they are doing and do something about it.

Another advanced use for this health sensor would be to track levels of various body chemicals such as the insulin hormone, somebody with health problem such as diabetes could be notified by the device if the insulin levels drop too low telling the wearer that they need to get medication for their health problem.

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