Book Image

Learn Human-Computer Interaction

By : Christopher Reid Becker
Book Image

Learn Human-Computer Interaction

By: Christopher Reid Becker

Overview of this book

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a field of study that researches, designs, and develops software solutions that solve human problems. This book will help you understand various aspects of the software development phase, from planning and data gathering through to the design and development of software solutions. The book guides you through implementing methodologies that will help you build robust software. You will perform data gathering, evaluate user data, and execute data analysis and interpretation techniques. You’ll also understand why human-centered methodologies are successful in software development, and learn how to build effective software solutions through practical research processes. The book will even show you how to translate your human understanding into software solutions through validation methods and rapid prototyping leading to usability testing. Later, you will understand how to use effective storytelling to convey the key aspects of your software to users. Throughout the book, you will learn the key concepts with the help of historical figures, best practices, and references to common challenges faced in the software industry. By the end of this book, you will be well-versed with HCI strategies and methodologies to design effective user interfaces.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)
1
Section 1 - Learn Human-Computer Interaction
5
Section 2 - How to Build Human-Centered Software
11
Section 3 - When to Improve Software Systems

Gathering research data on our users

Whether you like it or not, data is king. In the early 2000s, there was a saying that content is king because users were rapidly consuming content from the internet and to attract users that had shifted from other media: TV, magazines, newspapers, and so on. The only way to accomplish this was to offer better content. Content is still relevant – do not get me wrong – but as all that content moved online, along with it came the ability to gather data. Data gathering is everywhere. As the internet has woven its way into every aspect of our lives, what has come along with it is the collection of data. If you use Google, watch Netflix, find a restaurant to eat using Maps, or spend any time on Instagram, you are participating in data being collected on you, your experience, and your interactions. Though this might seem a bit creepy in the abstract, in reality, data is the mechanism that allows a user to receive any level of customization with...