Human-computer interaction (HCI) is a field that concerns how humans and computers interact to perform a goal. It is a multidisciplinary field, combining the research of multiple domains such as computer science, cognitive psychology, design, and
HCI involves several factors which determine how successful the communication between the user and the computer is. These factors are explained below:
Computer systems are often used in an organizational setting where human-computer interaction occurs. Therefore, organizational factors play an essential role in accomplishing this communication. These include the following factors:
Training
Job design
Politics
Roles
Work organization
For example, when computers are introduced to replace a manual task in an organization, training must be provided to the employees, or it will halt their interaction experience.
A crucial factor in HCI is the contextual environment where the user interacts with the computer. Some of the environmental factors are as follows:
Noise
Heating
Lighting
Ventilation
For example, the user's interaction with the computer will be different in a dimly lit room than in a bright room. If the environment is noisy, the user may get distracted and not successfully use the computer.
The health and safety factors of the user are as follows:
Stress
Headaches
Musculoskeletal disorders
For example, if a user suffers from a headache while using a computer, they might not have a high satisfaction level interacting with it.
This part is where cognitive psychology comes in, as the internal mental processes of users play a role in their interaction with technology. Therefore, human cognition and personality factors should be considered when designing computer systems. Some cognitive and personality factors are as follows:
Cognitive processes and capabilities
Motivation
Enjoyment
Satisfaction
Personality
Experience level
Some of the comfort factors are as follows:
Seating
Equipment
Layout
For example, a user will perform better on a drawing application with a stylus than with a trackpad. If a user is comfortably seated while using a computer, they'll have a higher satisfaction level with the interaction.
The design of the software's user interface dictates whether the users will have a good experience with it or not. The elements of the user interface affecting the interaction are as follows:
Input devices
Output devices
Dialogue structures
Use of color
Icons
Commands
Navigation
Graphics
Natural language
User support materials
Multimedia
Users may or may not appreciate the presence of these elements, depending on the task at hand and user preferences. Therefore, it is necessary to research the users before designing the interface.
The interaction must be designed keeping in mind the complexity of the task performed using the computer. The task factors are as follows:
Easy
Complex
Novel
Task allocation
Repetitive
Monitoring
Skills
Components
Some limitations and constraints to human and computer performance might restrict the success of the human-computer interaction. Some constraints are as follows:
Cost
Timescales
Budgets
Staff
Equipment
Building structure
The computer is an essential part of human-computer interaction. Therefore, the factors associated with it affect the overall interaction experience significantly. The system functionality factors are as follows:
Hardware
Software
Application
One of the aims of HCI is to maximize the productivity of human tasks. Therefore, it should be designed in a way that:
Increases output
Increases quality
Decreases costs
Decreases errors
Decreases labor requirements
Decreases production time
Increases creative and innovative ideas
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