Chapter 1: Historical Context

Question 1

In what year were we introduced to computers? And in what year to interactions with computers?

Answer 1

• 1940s
• 1980s

Question 2

Were humans not interacting with computers between 1940 and 1980?

Answer 2

As computers were too precious and too complicated, they were carefully guarded and average humans were not allowed to mess with them

Question 3

How is the term “user study” defined in the book?

Answer 3

It is defined as an experiment with human participants

Question 4

What is SIGCHI?

Answer 4

SIGCHI is the special interest group on computer-human interaction sponsored by the ACM (Association for Computing)

Question 5

How can we define HCI?

Answer 5

HCI is human factors - which is concerned with human capabilities, limitations, performance and design of systems that are efficient, safe, etc - but narrowly focused on human interaction with computing technology of some sort

Question 6

Sketchpad 1960s

Answer 6

• Sketchpad was a graphics system that supported the manipulation of geometric
  shapes and lines (objects) on a display using a light pen
• Developed by Ivan Sutherlands as part of his PhD research
• Was the first direct manipulation interface

Question 7

What device symbolizes the emergence of HCI?

Answer 7

• The mouse , invented in 1963 by Douglas Engelbart
• Fundamentally changed the way humans interact with computers
• The initial testing of the mouse was arguably HCI’s first user study

Question 8

What was involved in the initial testing of the mouse?

Answer 8

• Focused on selecting and manipulating text, rather than drawing and manipulating graphic object
• Controlled experiment comparing several input devices capable of selection and x-y position control:
  - Light pen
  - Joystick
  - Knee-controlled lever
• Involved 13 participants
• User access time and motion time were measured
• Marked an important milestone in empirical research in HCI