The Concept of Human Computer Interaction - Literature review Example

Human Computer Interaction Name: Institution: Human Computer Interaction The concept of human computer interaction (HCI) developed in the 1980s primarily as a specialty cause for computer science that was beginning to embrace cognitive science and human elements in engineering. According to Shneiderman and Plaisant (2010), HCI evolved rapidly with the emergence of personal computing: interactive games, programming languages, operating systems etc., which spread the computing to greater global reaches. Although the initial rationality of HCI revolved around computer science with primary focus on personal productivity applications: text editing, the concept has drastically broadened into expansive user experiences. The contemporary knowledge based society is anchored on the internet interconnectivity, which through effective websites, communicates and advances different user experiences virtually. It is therefore fair to argue that the expansive reach of HCI is invigorated by the efficacy of the websites as information platforms through which the global society consumes digital products. To qualify as a universal instrument of informational marketing, the website must anchor features that optimize its accessibility and capacity to satisfy the viewers. A website must be designed with the viewer’s perceptions in mind, and catchy and implicit text must be used to communicate succinctly with the viewers. In addition to advancing the understanding of HCI in a critical review, this analysis evaluates the website for Jenolan Caves to report its design suitability and efficiency in the context of its intended online purpose. Interaction Design The emerging gravitation toward discretionary use and greater user experience roots from the increasing global internet use and the drastic discoveries of home and leisure computing and applications. In particular, the emerging online transactional base fueled by increment of digital interactive consumer goods and services has transformed the way HCI is viewed, analyzed, and presented. Interaction design as regards HCI revolves around transformational computing and the technological alternatives available for the designer to integrate change in specific online parameters (Jacko, 2007). Design in the context of HCI revolves around exploration of possible futures of the online world and consumer experiences. Improvement in designing of online platforms, instruments, and tools may involve actively involving the real needs of potential users in different participatory forms (Smith-Atakan, 2006). Shneiderman and Plaisant (2010) argue that design in the context of HCI comprises deducing the apparent problem and appropriately formulating the possible solution. Based on the continual notion of changing consumer and computing situations, and the parallel zeal of exploring the possible futures, it appears prudent to conclude that the circumstances surrounding a particular design do not remain static. This connoted the need for continual analysis of the extant contexts in order to define future problems and concurrent solutions. For contemporary interaction design, there are crucial factors and implications to be considered from the temporal perspective of the design. For instance, in the case of the Website, whose core parameters include the graphics, the network congestion, and the consideration of time response, the interaction design must seek efficacy at all fronts. Response time is particularly precious in that lengthy and unnecessarily interruptive system response times are not only frustrating but also derail viewer’s desire to explore the online product. This implies that the designers of response times and display rates should critically integrate the complexity of an activity with appropriate technical tools. Additionally, at interaction design level, the designers should seek to satisfy user expectations at minimum cost while reducing potential for errors. The interaction design forms the core of the usability and optimal efficiency of any online platform especially the web. This is because design considers instrumental, applications technicalities, aesthetics, and the ethical parameters in the final interactive platform. The essence is that whether the overall website is attractive for use, and whether it affectively satisfies the viewers as regards the moral standards, social accountability, influences not only the user experience but also the desired outcomes and evaluation. This implies that users, and in this context the web viewers are wholesome entities with complex sensibilities and design processes need to consider all underlying characteristics that underpin efficiency and improved satiability. Shneiderman and Plaisant (2010) have laid bear that consumer needs underpin what interaction design in HCI furtherance shape digital products for. With the contemporary evolution of digital technology in the realm of consumer products, computing innovations have progressed in embracing leisure and entertainment factors. The internet penetration has particularly called for improved understanding and integration of communication technology canons in development of digital platforms. The emergence of consumer experience as a marketing object has further broadened the use of consumer oriented techniques in shaping interactive digital platforms. Characteristics of a Good Business Website Although from a professional perspective the factors comprising efficiency of a website vary greatly, the design, text presentation, navigation, and the naming of pages form the core of the look and feel of the site. As described by Nagel (2010), a professional design gives the website the desired simplicity that pulls the viewers. A web’s design need to primarily target the initial perceptions of the viewers, which should give them assurance that though they are interacting virtually, they are transacting business with a professional entrepreneur. More importantly, the design needs to allow viewers to access and understand the information that would be instrumental in making their consumption decisions. A good website need to have navigational tools that simplify interaction of viewers and the information they are seeking, which implies that accessing the desired pages should be easy. Although sitemaps may be professionally considered vital for a website through search engines, many consumers do not utilize them, which implies that the designers should invest more efforts in optimizing accessibility of the home page and other pages that should be loaded with appropriate information that may be sought by viewers. Important to mention in this context is the naming of pages using key words to facilitate ease of searching the site content from search engines. Worthwhile considering on a website is the presentation of text, which should be highly visible and large enough to make it legible. Additionally, the hue of the text should be visible to the target audience in that care should be taken to ensure the background does not interfere with ease of legibility. It should be noted that the text presented at the home page must be designed to facilitate the communication satiability for the side of target audience as regards the information they may want from the organization’s site. Text is the power of a website (Nagel, 2010), and must therefore be integrated into the site in a manner that the site bears information that consumers are likely to use when interacting with their online devices. To optimize the usability of the website, it needs to be available throughout all the times the potential users may search its contents, which requires the domain to be fronted in the big search engines for recognition. For instance, to make the website be noticed by Google, the domain may be purchased more than one year. Submitting to the major search engines and recommending other alternative links increases the potential of the other sites to recommend your site too. Case Analysis: Website for Jenolan Caves As aforementioned, the interaction design forms the cornerstone of the efficacy of any website. User experiences are the drivers that underpin the usability interaction of a website in that any correspondence has to be explicit and purposeful, and the extensiveness of the design need to address the multiple clientele needs. The basis of web evaluation is the layout of the pages, textual presentations, and the legibility of all information loaded on the site targeting viewers. The website assessment entails the critique of everything ranging from simple error checking to sophisticated measurement of traffic statistics (Lanier, 2010). In analyzing the Jenolan Caves web (Jenolan Caves, n.d), this report dwells on the frequency of errors, compliance with standard language, and importantly the general accessibility of the site. Jenolan Caves website appears to be designed stylishly with strategic page layout, in which different sections fit in well with appropriate information. The display design is factually impressive because the arrangement of informational tools and interaction tools facilitates easy access to necessary data in a systematic manner that does not confuse users. Graphics are presented in high resolution colors that are contrastingly appropriate relative to the background. The menu, which gives a summary of titles through which customers can access information of their choice is presented appropriately and formatted with the visible font. Additionally, the text is properly connected with appropriate graphics that they refer to, for instance, pointing the cursor to the accommodation menu at the top of the home page not only drops down a list of information links but also leads to a pop up image of accommodation units. Also, when the cursor points the dinning menu there pops up a graphic with dinning space and people already dining. Information is strategically arranged and icons properly placed at different sections of the web home page, and hyperlinks that open fast are integrated into the website. Important to note is the constant movement of the graphics that keep the viewers busy and cultivating their desire to explore the site for different information. The website is loaded with language conversion capability providing users multilingual choices such that through the choose language box, a customer is able to select their language of choice for effective communication and ease of making desired choices of services. Navigation within the website is strategically addressed through proper placement of icons and systematic placement of text. The textual font is large enough and blended with the appropriate fill that contrasts the background, making it more appealing to viewers and easy to read and understand. Important to note is the inclusion of tools that allow online choice of products and services for example the purchase of tickets for different activities or booking for accommodation. There is also a phone number that serves to assure customers that may need personalized voice communication. Summarily, Jenolan Caves website is designed for optimal outcomes. Conclusion The concept of human computer interaction (HCI) developed in the 1980s primarily as a specialty cause for computer science that was beginning to embrace cognitive science and human elements in engineering. Rapid evolution toward internet interconnectivity, through effective websites, communicates and advances different user experiences virtually. The proliferation of communication technology through the internet has created a virtual market place, the internet, which is increasingly optimized via digital platforms especially the World Wide Web. Efficacy of the website in terms of human’s interactivity with information is a function of proper interaction design. Appropriate design includes proper arrangement of web features on the page, use of correct color hues and text fonts that not only attract users but also promotes understanding of the content. Jenolan Caves website is adequately designed with optimal instruments and tools integrated on the pages. References Jacko, J.A. (2007). Human-computer interaction: interaction design and usability. London, UK: Springer. Jenolan Caves. (n.d). Jenolan Caves. Retrieved from http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/ Lanier, X. (2010). RIM acquires TAT, expect better Blackberry UI’s soon. GottaBeMobile. Retrieved from http://gbmimagetest.wpengine.com/2010/12/02/rim-acquires-tat-expect- better-blackberry-uis-soon/ Nagel, S. (2010). Analysis of the E-business website: Structure, design, and concept of website put to test. Berlin, GRIN Verlag. Shneiderman, B., & Plaisant, C. (2010). Designing the user interface: Strategies for effective human-computer interaction. (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Addison-Wesley. Smith-Atakan, S. (2006). Human computer interaction. London, UK: Cengage Learning. Read More