HCI Introduction and Foundations

Vocabulary flashcards covering key HCI concepts from the introduction through design foundations.

Learning goal

A knowledge target you want students to understand by the end of a course.

Learning outcome

The abilities or tasks you want students to be able to perform after instruction.

HCI (Human-Computer Interaction)

The field studying how to design effective interactions between humans and computers, spanning principles, methods, and applications.

Design life cycle

The process by which interfaces go from conception to prototypes to evaluation, emphasizing iteration.

Iteration

Repeating phases of design and evaluation to improve a design based on feedback.

Usability

The ease with which a user can achieve their goals using a system.

Feedback

Information about the result of an action, used to guide future actions and improve interaction.

Feedback timing

Providing the appropriate kind of feedback at the right moment in a task.

Design interactions

The process of shaping how users perform tasks and achieve goals, not just the surface interface.

Applications areas of HCI

Broad domains where HCI is applied, such as healthcare, VR, and sonification.

Healthcare (as an HCI area)

HCI applications in medical settings to improve patient care, usability of systems, and clinician workflows.

Virtual reality

Immersive, computer-generated environments that are a key application area for HCI.

Sonification

Using non-speech audio to convey information in an interface or system.

Nest thermostat

A learning thermostat that adapts to user patterns to optimize home heating and cooling.

Thermostat (design example)

An example illustrating two design aspects: applying HCI principles (like feedback, error tolerance) and gathering user feedback to iterate designs.

User requirements

Information gathered about what users need to perform tasks, guiding design decisions.

Design alternatives

Multiple concepts proposed to meet user requirements, to be evaluated with users.

Evaluation with users

Testing or gathering feedback from real users to judge and improve designs.

Learning strategies

Methods used to help students learn, including learning by example, doing, and reflection.

Learning by example

Learning through running examples or case studies to illustrate concepts.

Learning by doing

Learning through hands-on design activities and problem solving.

Learning by reflection

Contemplating experiences to extract lessons and insights.

Project-based learning

A learning approach where students solve real problems in teams, producing tangible outcomes.

Communities of practice

Groups that share a domain and practices to improve collectively through collaboration.

Five tips for course success

Practical guidance: read assignments early, start early, participate, select an application area, and engage with forums.