Revision Questions Flashcards
What is perceptual causality?
Perceptual causality refers to the observer’s tendency to infer cause and effect relationships between events from sensory information, particularly visual cues. When we witness an event, our perceptual system automatically tries to interpret and understand the causal dynamics of these events without any conscious deliberation.
What are the main constraints of mobile platforms?
Screen Size: Mobile phones have a small screen size, which can limit the amount of information displayed and affect the user interface design.
Limited Resources: Mobile devices often have less storage space (RAM) and lower processing capabilities compared to desktop computers.
Battery Life: Battery life on mobile devices is limited and can be drained quickly with intensive applications or poor optimization.
Security Risks: Mobile phones are more prone to theft because they are carried around to many different locations, increasing the risk of loss or unauthorized access.
Connection Volatility: Mobile phone connections can be less stable, with lower bandwidth and a higher tendency to lose connection, especially in areas with poor signal.
Interaction Constraints: The interaction with mobile devices is often limited by the smaller touchscreen interface, which can affect the complexity of tasks that can be efficiently performed.
What are the advantages and drawbacks of a navigation bar at the top of a mobile screen?
Advantages:
Intuitive navigation: A navigation bar at the top of the screen is a widely recognized standard, making it intuitive for users.
Accessibility: Positioning the navigation bar at the top of the interface places it within easy reach for users.
Drawbacks:
Limited space for items: Navigation bars can become cluttered if there are too many items.
Screen Real-estate: The navigation bar is a permanent fixture that reduces the available space for content.
What is the difference between a predictive and descriptive model in HCI?
Predictive models in HCI are used to forecast future events based on mathematical formulas and calculations, such as predicting the time it takes for users to complete a task on a new software interface based on user data and interaction patterns.
Descriptive models in HCI aim to encapsulate and explain the current or past behavior within a system, like analyzing how users typically navigate through an app, documenting the common paths and choices made without attempting to forecast future navigation behaviors.
In HCI, predictive models can inform design decisions by anticipating user needs and system requirements, while descriptive models help understand user behavior and system use, leading to insights that can drive iterative design improvements.
