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

Executing prototypes first as a design ethos

It is evident in HCI that there are lots of people who come together to build software when the entire team is aligned under a design and development process; it offers fewer communication challenges but also allows organizations to share collective knowledge. When teams all speak the same language (design thinking and agile), they understand the same skills and share in the load for solving problems, which helps the team to move faster. This is where prototyping first comes into play.

A prototype is a usable sketch, a model of a product, service, or software built to test a concept or process. It is used to evaluate a new design by its users through rapid testing and iteration. Sometimes called rapid prototyping, it is a methodology used in a variety of design contexts, including product (physical), architecture, graphic design, electronics, and software programming, as well as others.

Prototyping is a vital part of web and application...