The study of HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) and Interactive Systems can be broken down into 4 main areas which will be covered in these notes:

• Human Factors
• Technology Issues
• Interactive Systems Design (ISD) and the processes involved
• Evaluation

HCI is an important field of study which interests many from other fields of research. These include usability engineers, cognitive engineers, interaction designers, information architects, HCI consultants, user-centred designers, and Graphical User Interface (GUI) designers.

Human-computer interaction can be defined as a discipline which focuses on the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computer systems which are to be used by humans. HCI also looks at the social, psychological, and technical issues surrounding these systems and their use.

Interactive systems are systems which support bi-directional communication between a user and a device.

Recommended reading is The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman. The cover shows the brilliant "Coffeepot for masochists". This is a good example of design which does not help the user. Bad designs, such as this most unusual coffeepot, are difficult and frustrating to use and can sometimes be dangerous.

The aim of studying HCI and the good practices of ISD is to help in creating better designs. There are many different aspects of a good design. One aspect is Usability.

To be able to create a system or an object that is "usable" involves having a knowledge of available computer technology, understanding how people interact with that technology, and also understanding the work that people are trying to perform. Having these factors in mind enables a better collaboration between the more user-centred background of HCI / ISD and the more technically oriented approach taken with software engineering.

Developing good designs means linking HCI and ISD closely with each other also. Good design is aided by involving users, using HCI knowledge and expertise, and making the design process an iterative process so that the design is continually improved / refined. Of course, these do not guarantee a good (and successful) product but they do help a great deal!

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