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
Human-Centered Solutions

Now that we are getting deep into HCI in this book and you are starting to realize how software is meant to be designed for the widest set of users possible through usability, accessibility, and caring about your user's needs, let's consolidate our knowledge and discuss what makes software successful.

As you continue to grow your HCI skills, it is essential to allow not only your skills to radiate into all your solutions, but also to allow the value and importance of your decisions to reflect the broader community of HCI and human-centered design practitioners. Software design does not exist in a vacuum; it is part of the culture and an HCI designer's ability to anchor their solutions deep in the communities they serve allows us to earn that right and also the right to not accept or tolerate bad software. We now know how to fix it, so let...