Human-computer interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary branch of research that focuses on the design of computer technology, specifically on the interaction between humans (users) and computers. While it began with computers, HCI has subsequently extended to encompass practically all aspects of information technology design. Professor Alan Dix outlines the origins of HCI and which topics are particularly relevant to it in this video.
HCI emerged in the 1980s, at a time when personal computing was on the rise. It was around this time that desktop computers began to appear in homes and corporate offices. The history of HCI can be traced back to video games, word processors, and numerical units.
However, with the introduction of the internet and the proliferation of mobile and diverse technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and voice-based, computing became omnipresent and omnipotent. User interactions evolved as a result of technological proficiency. As a result, the need for developing a tool to make such human-machine interactions more human-like increased significantly. This established HCI as a technology, encompassing various fields such as cognitive engineering, linguistics, neuroscience, and others.
Today, human-computer interaction (HCI) focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating interactive interfaces that improve user experience when using computing devices. User interface design, user-centered design, and user experience design are all examples of this.
The HCI Meteoric Rise
HCI emerged in the 1980s with the emergence of personal computing, just as computers such as the Apple Macintosh, IBM PC 5150, and Commodore 64 began to appear in society-changing numbers in homes and offices. For the first time, sophisticated electronic devices such as word processors, game consoles, and accountancy tools were offered to regular customers. As a result of computers no longer being room-sized, expensive equipment designed solely for professionals in specialised areas, the requirement for human-computer interaction that was also simple and efficient for less experienced users became increasingly important. HCI would grow from its humble beginnings to encompass a wide range of fields, including computer science, cognitive science, and human-factors engineering.
HCI quickly became the focus of significant academic research. Those who studied and worked in HCI considered it as a critical tool for popularising the idea that computer-to-human interaction should resemble an open-ended human-to-human discussion. Initially, HCI researchers focussed on increasing desktop computer usability (i.e., practitioners concentrated on how easy computers are to learn and use). However, as technologies such as the Internet and smartphones proliferate, computer use will shift away from the desktop and toward the mobile environment.
The UX Value Of HCI And Related Domains
HCI is a comprehensive field that includes user-centered design (UCD), user interface (UI), and user experience (UX) design. HCI was the predecessor to UX design in many aspects.
Despite this, there are some distinctions between HCI and UX design. HCI practitioners are more intellectually oriented. They are involved in scientific research and the development of empirical user understandings. UX designers, on the other hand, are virtually always industry-focused and involved in the creation of products or services, such as smartphone apps and websites. Regardless of this separation, the practical considerations for products with which we as UX designers are concerned have direct links to HCI specialists’ conclusions concerning user mindsets.
With the greater scope of issues covered by HCI, UX designers have a wealth of resources to draw from, while much research is still geared toward academic audiences. Designers, on the other hand, do not have the luxury of time that HCI professionals do. So, in order to obtain these more academic insights, we must go beyond our industry-imposed boundaries. When you’re good at it, you can use critical insights to create the best designs for your users. Designers can drive significant changes in the market and society by “collaborating” in this way with the HCI world.
The Significance Of HCI
HCI is critical in creating intuitive interfaces that people of various abilities and expertise can use. Most importantly, human-computer interaction is beneficial to communities that lack knowledge and formal training on how to interact with specific computing systems.
Users do not need to consider the intricacies and complexities of using the computing system when using efficient HCI designs. Interfaces that are user-friendly ensure that user interactions are clear, precise, and natural.
Let Us Consider The Significance Of HCI In Our Daily Lives
1. HCI In Everyday Life
Today, technology has permeated our daily lives and has an impact on them. One does not need to own or use a smartphone or computer to experience HCI technology. People come into contact with HCI when they use an ATM, a food vending machine, or a snack vending machine. This is due to the importance of HCI in designing the interfaces of such systems that make them usable and efficient.
2. Industry
Industries that rely on computing technology for day-to-day operations view HCI as a necessary business-driving force. Efficiently designed systems ensure that employees are at ease using the systems on a daily basis. System administration is simple with HCI, even for untrained personnel.
HCI is essential in the design of safety systems such as those used in air traffic control (ATC) and power plants. In such cases, the goal of HCI is to ensure that the system is accessible to any non-expert individual who can handle safety-critical situations if necessary.
3. Disabled-Accessible
The primary goal of HCI is to design systems that are accessible, usable, efficient, and safe for everyone. This means that people with a wide range of abilities, expertise, and knowledge can use HCI-designed systems with ease. People with disabilities are also included. To make systems usable for people with disabilities, HCI relies on user-centered techniques and methods.
4. An Essential Component Of Software Success
HCI is an essential component of software development firms that create software for end users. These businesses use HCI techniques to develop software products that are usable. Because the product is ultimately consumed by the end-user, adhering to HCI methods is critical because the product’s sales are dependent on its usability.
5. Beneficial For Underserved Communities
User manuals for general computer systems are becoming increasingly scarce. User manuals are available for very few advanced and complex computing systems. In general, users expect systems to be user-friendly and accessible within a few minutes of interacting with them. In this case, HCI is an effective tool that designers can use to create user-friendly interfaces. HCI principles also ensure that systems have clear interfaces and do not require any special training to use. As a result, HCI creates computing systems that are suitable for an untrained community.
