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

Designing useful interfaces

Many of the greatest inventions in the world are useful. Take the wheel, for example. It is quite possibly the most useful invention for man. The value that the idea of a wheel has spawned endless iterations, all on the back of the idea that a wheel is useful because it can spin, carry things, and makes moving from point A to point B faster. In 2020, computer software is as dominant as the wheel, and the idea of computer software has become as useful to us as the wheel is remarkable.

Quick question: If you have to go to a party across town without your smartphone, how would you do it?

For many, this might would be a daunting task because we as users have become so reliant on software such as Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps. Your method of using a piece of software is very useful, and not using it properly would then be useless. Navigating a city is potentially complicated, and the usefulness of directional software has made it so widely adopted.

The value...