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

Aligning a solution to users

An HCI designer must work very hard to refine their user insights into sharable deliverables that can be used by their team, clients, and stakeholders. A great user insight is like catching a big fish: you want to be able to mount and display it for all to see.

User insights have a paradox as they are essential in helping design teams create solutions but should not contain a solution on their own. Rather, user insights should align an HCI design team toward multiple solutions. The user insight can be valued by the number of possible solutions it helps create. A great user insight will not have just one solution but rather will allow an HCI team to devise multiple solutions. User insights drive an innovation cycle for software teams:

Our user insight:

A growing teenage boy with many factors pulling at his attention needs to be more socially supported by his peers when eating healthy food because, in his environment, his social circle has more impact on...