Human-Computer Interaction - Coursework Example

Running Head: Human-Computer Interaction Human-Computer Interaction Name Institution Date Human-Computer Interaction Introduction Today, HCI is attracting significant attention and is regarded as one of the most critical challenges facing computer science and engineering (Fetaji et al, .2007:314). More emphasis has been placed on user’s task performance. Although this has gone so well up to date, attention on the user experience which is similarly vital to design is still not well understood, more so when the main aim is to entertain the user. This approach presents a shift in focus from usability analysis to user experience analysis (Mandryk, Atkins and Inkpen, 2006:1027). This paper seeks to fill this gap by exploring and discussing Human Computer Interaction using an illustration of digital television for home entertainment. This paper is presented in four broad parts. After the brief introduction in this chapter, definition of key terms is summarized in section two. This part continues with description of Digital TV operating principles. The next section (3) presents some of the Advantages and disadvantages of digital TV. Finally, section four summarizes the conclusions followed by the References. Conceptualization of key concepts Human-computer interaction (HCI) generally relates to the understanding of how people interact with different computer based technology with a particular emphasis on the 'interaction at the interface' with the technology in a broader sense (Fetaji et al, .2007:314). Another definition is given by Hewett and colleagues. They argue that Human-computer interaction relates to the type, assessment and adoption of interactive computing systems for users and other related aspects (Hewett et al., 2002:5). It is also defined as a socio-technological discipline whose main agenda is to give users, computers and communications appliances in different forms accessible and useful in their working, recreational lives among other things. Generally, a television system entails equipment located at the source of production, the home of the viewer, and all other equipment used to pass the television signal from the producer to the viewer in a bid to broaden not only the senses of vision but as well as those of hearing beyond their natural limits of physical distance. In terms of the principle of Human-computer interaction, a television set must be designed in a way that embraces the essential capabilities of the human senses, especially vision (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012). A Digital television is that type of television which employs the use digital signal, instead of analog in its broadcasting consequently bringing a better sound and picture quality and enhanced coverage. In a broader definition, digital TV entails the capture, production, distribution, and broadcasting of programs in a digitally encoded manner (Abe, 1998). Some of its operating principle is as described in the following paragraphs. A digital system is characterized by a conceptual block diagram which is similar to a common amplification. It has a single baseband signal which generally modulates a carrier which is then augmented in the transmitter, broadcast by way of the antenna, and received after propagating via the over-the-air link. It is also associated with multiplexes, each using one frequency channel (8MHz) of spectrum. The multiplexes also have some forms of modulators which are able to convert the digital data stream from the re-multiplexer into and a specified signal for broadcasting. Apart from this, it has a network management system which checks the system throughout the network thus allowing remote control of equipment (Europe Economics and Quotient Associates, 2005:8). (See diagram 1 in the next page) Figure 1: Functional block diagram of the System Adopted from EN 300 421 V1.1.2 (1997-08) Digital TV sets also have super compression mechanisms, a concept based on two principles; the first one is Down sampling/up sampling, or spatial decimation, and the second one is deblurring, super-resolution, or sharpening. This brings about super-resolution, as it increases compression on the basis of a reduction in size of the image. If the compression is high, then convolutive mask inside decoder can be utilized to restore the edges thus removing the blur (Mastriani, 2010:582). Digital TV as a success in HCI Digital TV can be said to have achieved and maintained both effort expectancy and performance expectancy (Venkatesh et al., 2003). In addition, its relevance can be illustrated in terms of Norman’s model of interaction which operates under four main components namely the system, the user, the input and the output (Hoare, 2007). The following paragraph gives more details on the link. The rise of digital television relates to various excitable accounts of technological change. One of these accounts is the argument is the shift to a focus of television production and consumption (Rosen 2006). It is linked to an unprecedented level of user access and content customization which would dramatically transform associated television content and the way in which it is consumed. In addition, it can facilitate popular participation at the production level and even democratization at the point of consumption. This technological advancement is quite a viable market for those the investors (Tay and Turner, 2010:32). In terms of content and form, the digital television channels are consistent with the original analogue channels, except that sound and picture quality are much improved as well as the increased number of channels. An analogue municipal cable network generally could transmit a relatively few channels but with the digitization, the number of channels increases remarkably (Wei, 2010:106). Advantages and Disadvantages The digital TV has significantly enhanced the viewer experience. The system is associated with more capacity of transmission .Such feature can be utilized in various ways to allow for more channels than in the previous analogue TV and can also transmit TV programming with a high definition resolution, good quality as well as interactive applications (Menezes and Carvalho, 2009:83). An estimated six times as many channels can be broadcast with the same amount of transmission capacity as is currently used for one analogue channel (Adda and Ottaviani, 2005:161). Dupagne summarized the key advantages of Digital tevelevision as attributed to higher resolution, wider pictures, and compact-disc quality sound (Dupagne, 1999:35). In addition to the expansion in the amount of information being transmitted, the digitization of TV makes possible its integration or convergence with other communications networks. In such technical environment, television services can be provided by alternative networks, such as high-speed network using Internet protocol. They also present huge differentials that the so technically limited terrestrial broadcasting is unable to offer: more flexibility, allowing users to choose the desired content, as well as the time and place of content consumption through the device of his or her choice such as a TV, a computer or a portable terminal (OECD, 2004a). With increased capacity to transmit data under a single network platform, digital TVs can reduce both technological and economical barriers and be able to facilitate reproduction as well transmitted of program. In other words, though quite expensive to produce, it is rather cheap to reproduce (Menezes and Carvalho, 2009:85). It is also associated with digital broadcasting with a availability of choice where users are best served when they have a choice, high quality programs, access to different service providers and different transmission platforms and a wide selection of digital equipment having various levels of functionality as the case of multi-casting where multiple programming channels are transmitted over a single digital frequency. In digital broadcasting one frequency is be able to carry about 12 channels, because the service providers are encouraged to produce more content, so as to utilize more channels on a single frequency, otherwise they would be losing, any existing channel (Agona and Otim, 2011: 71). Disadvantages Despite the above mentioned benefits, there are naturally a couple of possible shortcomings. Equipments used in high definition content production are comparatively more expensive with an additional cost on post-production due to the fact that high definition images need more editing and storage capacity. The high definition also implies more intensive use and application of infrastructural capacity in distribution which is also very expensive. Digital TV sets are more costly to consumers as their processing power requires a larger screen for high-quality image. All these factors only mean relatively higher prices in terms of production, transmission and reception of high definition content, which possibly expand the barriers to entry of smaller producers and programmers unable to bear higher initial investment and operational costs (Menezes and Carvalho, 2009:84). Conclusion From the a foregoing paragraph, it is clear that Digital Television is associated with improved user experience in so far as Human-Computer interaction is concerned. Its capacity as well as the character of the platforms upon which it is being mounted is expected to change the social practice of television in many locations and contexts. This is not to say that it does not have any shortcomings. There are various challenges associated with Digital TV mostly revolving about the cost of implementing it. However its great potential cannot be underestimated. This study can provide practical understanding on the concept of human computer interaction. Reference Abe, G., (1998) Digital Television: A New Venue for the Internet ,The Internet Protocol Journal - Volume 1, No. 3(online)accessed on 4 April, 2012 http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac123/ac147/archived_issues/ipj_1-3/digital_tv.html Adda, J., and Ottaviani, M., (2005). The transition to digital television Great Britain: Economic Policy January 2005 pp. 159–209 Agona, S., and Otim, J.S., (2011) Readiness of Uganda for Analog to Digital Migration by December, 2012 International Journal of Computing and ICT Research, Vol. 5, Special Issue, pp 69-79 Dupagne, M. (1999). Exploring the characteristics of potential high-definition television adopters. The Journal of Media Economics, 12, 35–50. Encyclopedia Britannica (2012) Television Encyclopedia Britannica (Online) Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. Europe Economics and Quotient Associates (2005) Cost Accounting and Pricing Principles in Finnish Digital TV Transmission Condensed Report to FICORA for Public Consultation Europe Economics, September 2005 Fetaji, M., Loskoska, S., Fetaji, B., and Ebibi, M., (2007) Investigating Human Computer Interaction Issues in Designing Efficient Virtual Learning Environments: Technology-enhanced learning BCI 2007, Sofia, Bulgaria pp, 313-323 Hewett, T. T., Ronald B., Stuart C., Tom C., Jean G., Marilyn M., Gary P., Gary S., and William V. (2002). ACM SIGCHI Curricula for Human-Computer Interaction. ACM. Hoare, H., (2007) Review and Analysis of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Principles, Southampton University, July 2007 Mastriani, M., (2010) Super-compression for Full-HD and 4k-3D (8k)Digital TV Systems World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology Vol.72 :582-592 Mandryk, R.L., Atkins, M.S., and Inkpen, K.M., (2006) A Continuous and Objective Evaluation of Emotional Experience with Interactive Play Environments: CHI 2006 Proceedings Novel Methods: Emotions, Gestures, Events April 22-27, 2006 Montréal, Québec, Canada (pp1027-1036) OECD, (2004b). Competition in the video programming distribution market: Implications for regulators. Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Services Policies. Paris: OECD Tay, J., and Turner, G., (2010) Not the Apocalypse: Television Futures in the Digital Age International Journal of Digital Television Volume 1(1): 31–50 Wei, W., (2010) A Description of China’s Digital Cable TV Services, International Journal of Digital Television, vol.1 (1) pp. 105–111 Read More