Human Computer Interaction Dr. Zahid Hussain Abro QUEST Nawabshah

Computers are Everywhere Computer invasion has started Traditional notion of computers Computers are everywhere Computers will annoy, infuriate, and even kill

Computers are Everywhere Run for your lives---invasion has begun---the computers are invading. As computers are penetrating in our daily life, it has some results. The bright side of this invasion is: Computers are enabling new discoveries Leading to efficiencies Making our life easy and convenient

Computers are Everywhere On the not so bright side the result is: Computers are annoying us They are infuriating (irritating) us They even kill a few of us.

Riddles for the Information Age Computer + Alarm Clock Computer + Camera Computer + Car Computer + Warship Computer + Airplane

Role of HCI Here comes the role of HCI. Human designed the interfaces we hate; human continue to use dysfunctional machines even as the awkward interfaces strain their eyes, ache their backs, and ruin their wrist tendons. HCI plays a role to bridge up the gape between the interfaces of machines and human understanding that we have seen in the previous examples.

HCI – A Formal Definition Human-Computer Interaction is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them -ACM/IEEE

Joke (from computer industry) Man in small airplane Lost in clouds Asks directions from man in building –you are in plane 100ft above ground Man in plane knew it was software engineer from Microsoft Answer was correct and factual, but no help whatsoever

Fundamental Truths about Computers Computers are ubiquitous –Everything we use is equipped with computer technology and so is their characteristically poor way of communicating and behaving

Fundamental Truths about Computers Computers are unconcerned only cared about its internal working

Fundamental Truths about Computers 1.They tell but do not inform. 2.They may guide us with precision but they do not guide us where we want to go.

So who is to be blamed? Can we Say Human Error on part of the pilot Or can we blame the computer for it?

Fundamental Truths about Computers Computers are invading every aspect of modern life, but their communication is poor

Cost of Features Every digital device has more features than its manual counterpart

BMW 7 Series with iDrive The ultimate driving machine

BMW 7 Series with iDrive L745i All Electronic Controls In one Knob climate, entertainment, navigation, car information etc Takes 15 mins to change a Radio Channel the fundamental flaw : you absolutely have to take your eyes off the road to change settings, Result, Constant Calls to Help Desk

Feature Shock Every digital device has more features than its manual counterpart But manual devices easier to use –Flexibility –Subtlety –Awareness Hi-tech companies add more feature to improve product –Product becomes complicated Bad process cant improve product

Reality Check and Question Computers are everywhere Is all computer-aided equipment inherently hard to use?

Humans vs. Computers

Understanding Nature of Computers and Humans 2 species: Human vs. Computers

Humans (aka Homo Sapiens) Complex Intelligent Animate Free will Range of emotions Make mistakes Most interesting and fascinating specie on planet

Computer Specie Dumb Unintelligent Inanimate Only do what they are told to do Dont make mistakes

Once Upon a Time Humans were responsible for performing tasks in business world Including interacting with other human beings Example: salesperson

Once Upon a Time Salesperson would judge customer –Tone –Attitude –Body language –Understand questions –Provide relevant answers

Now were.. Expecting computers to mimic human behavior, e.g. e-commerce systems Asking a DUMB, INANIMATE object to perform complex tasks that humans used to perform And perform with same level of EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS and ACCURACY as a human

A very CHALLENGING if not IMPOSSIBLE thing to do

Porsche Customers Before and after scenario Engine is now run by software built by software engineers

Acceptable levels of quality for software engineers are far lower than are those for traditional engineering disciplines

Reality Check Computers are everywhere Is all computer-aided equipment inherently hard to use? –No Computer-based products are NOT hard to use –Its the wrong process –Its the competency

What is the Relationship between Software Engineers and Apartheid? Apartheid ? Nelson Mandela? South Africa –Regime

What is the Relationship between Software Engineers and Apartheid? Apartheid –Racial segregation; specifically : a policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa Software Apartheid –Institutionalizing obnoxious behavior and obscure interaction of software-based products Comparison of Social Activist and Software Engineers Institutionalizing apartheid

Paradox … Why Were Computers Invented? Computerized tools hard to use Computers were invented to make life easy, convenient and efficient Cheaper for manufacturers to control the internal functioning of devices through computers Computers make us lose money, annoy us, even kill us! – a paradox

HCI and Software Engineers Software engineers focus on internal workings of software In HCI we are concerned with external workings of software

HCI – A Formal Definition Human-Computer Interaction is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them -ACM/IEEE