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

Summary

Throughout this chapter, we discussed how HCI applies to our lives and the bigger picture. We looked at HCI as a field of study and the history of building systems by highly accomplished professionals. We focused on the explosion of software made possible through the introduction of the internet in 1990 and discussed that HCI is a by-product of a lot of knowledge. The HCI foundations covered this chapter will have set you up to build your own HCI ethos through learning not just from me but also from all the other HCI giants that have come before us. The knowledge they have passed along has given HCI a broad set of principles that continue to grow through user research and the endless amount of software that can and will be created and improved through agile and iterative solutions.

HCI is a big field of study, and this chapter allowed us to start applying some new knowledge and follow some other thinkers that make up HCI's deep past as well as its rich and fertile future...