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 software is an awesome responsibility

Technology and software's value and ability to scale has impacted every echelon of society, from the Pope down to the potter. Between the 1960s and 1980s, computers were devices for supplementing work and therefore took on work responsibilities with their software. This was dubbed "desktop computing" as the computer was a device used in an office on a desk to do "office" work. Desktop computer hardware continues to exist; however, the majority of users interacting with computers are now doing so through handheld devices. As we have discussed, these handheld computers have become powerful enough and have software designed for them that has altered the very nature of doing work. Consider the idea that doing "work" is fundamentally different in every industry because of technology, particularly the smartphone, which has untethered workers from their desks. On the one hand, this is great as a worker can more...