Human-Computer Interaction: Chapter 3 - The Interaction
Interactivity and User Experience
Interactivity in Design
Focus on appearance (LOOK) and feel in design.
Designers often prioritize:
Layout
Colors
Fonts
Visual hierarchy
User Feelings and System Interaction
User Experience
Emphasizes the importance of how an interface feels.
Key factors include button click delay, smooth animation, and navigation clarity.
Users remember how a system feels more than its visual design.
Speech-Driven Interfaces
Advancements in Speech Input
Rapid advancements but still exhibit inaccuracies.
Strategies for effective interaction include:
Clear confirmation of user input.
Example: Airline reservation systems should confirm requests (e.g., "You want a ticket from New York to Boston?").
Principle: Never assume; always confirm inputs.
Look and Feel of Software
WIMP Systems (Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointers)
Despite containing the same elements, different systems (e.g., MacOS vs. Windows) exhibit different behaviors.
Look and Feel: Combination of appearance and behavior of interface elements.
User Initiative in Interaction
Initiative
Historical question concerning WIMP interfaces: who has the initiative? (user vs. computer).
WIMP exceptions include pre-emptive interface parts like modal dialog boxes:
They appear and must be addressed (good for critical errors or essential steps) but should be used cautiously.
Error Management and Repair
Error Handling in Interfaces
Errors are inevitable, but systems should facilitate error detection and correction.
Example interaction:
System: "Hello, this is the Go Faster booking system. What would you like?"
User: "I want to fly from New York to London."
System: "You want a ticket from New York to Boston?"
User: "No, sorry." System should confirm inputs one at a time.
Context of Interaction
Social and Organizational Influences
Interaction context is affected by various factors:
Interpersonal dynamics (impressing others, competition, fear of failure).
Users' motivations (fear, allegiance, ambition, self-satisfaction).
Inadequate systems can lead to frustration and reduced motivation.
Experience, Engagement, and Flow
Designing User Experience
Incorporates physical engagement and managing user value.
Based on concepts by Csikszentmihalyi:
Flow: Users should experience challenges without being overwhelmed.
Zone of Proximal Development: Tasks suitable for users with assistance.
Defining Experience
Enhancing Experience in Systems
In contexts such as home, entertainment, and shopping, mere usability is insufficient; users should desire to use the system.
Psychological aspects of experience:
Flow involves balancing anxiety and boredom.
Education relates to user capabilities enhanced with help.
Designing for Experience: Real vs. Virtual
Crackers Example: Analyzing Experience
Real Crackers vs. Virtual Crackers:
Elements such as surprise, sharing, suspense, and enjoyment differ between the two.
Real Crackers:
Surprise: Bang sound upon pulling.
Sharing: Physical experience.
Virtual Crackers:
Surprise: Visual effects (canvas and audio).
Sharing: Email-based invitations.
Components of Experience
Experience Elements
Important elements recreated in virtual contexts:
Pulling, suspense, bang sound, and social-sharing capabilities resemble real-life experiences.
Application of Design Principles in Real-World Scenarios
Numerous Applications
Online Shopping:
Examples include animations like "Add to cart" for user satisfaction and notifications for confirmation of actions.
Games:
Use of sounds to signify user progression (level-ups) for excitement and unlocking items for surprise.
Apps:
Mimic physical actions (e.g., pull-to-refresh) and generate anticipation through notifications.
Key Takeaway
Design Philosophy
Design focus should shift from mere functionality and appearance to enriching user experience:
Important question:
Not “What should it look like?”
But rather “What should the user feel?”
Considerations in Physical Design
Constraints in Physical Design
Design must address various constraints:
Ergonomics: Minimum button size.
Physical: Size of switches.
Legal/Safety: Requirements for controls (e.g., cooker controls).
Context: Cleanliness and aesthetic requirements.
Economic: Cost considerations.
Trade-offs in Design
Understanding Constraints
Design often involves trade-offs across and within categories (e.g., safety vs. ergonomics).
No perfect design exists; solutions are about managing these trade-offs effectively.
Fluidity in Physical Interaction
Physical Aspects Reflecting Functionality
Logical states should be revealed through physical design to enhance usability:
Example: Affordance relates to how controls reveal their function based on physical state indications.
Interaction Control Elements
Designing Control Mechanisms
Physical controls must communicate their state effectively (e.g., mechanical buttons, rotary knobs).
Value Management in User Interaction
Understanding User Value
Users engage with systems only if perceived value exceeds costs:
This can apply to time, emotional worth, or monetary cost (e.g., downloading time or money).
Economic concept applied:
Net Present Value: Take into account discounting future values through a formula of
Considerations of future costs and their significance for collective decision-making are essential for achieving engagement.
Organizational Value Design
Organizational Dynamics
Value may manifest through coercion, enculturation for corporate values, or emergence in design processes that align personal and organizational values.
General Lessons in Design
Principles for Effective Interaction
Make tasks easy for users and comprehend their values for enhancing engagement and interaction.