Topic 3- HCI

Question 0

What are the factors that need to be taken into account when designing a graphical user interface?

Answer 0

• consistency of signposting and information
• layout appropriate to task
• differentiation in user expertise
• use by disabled people
• on screen help
• consistency of navigation

Question 1

What is the consistency or navigation?

Answer 1

That once the user has figured out how to use the navigation on the home par, they will be able to use it on all of the subsequent pages

Question 2

What is consistency of signposting and pop up information?

Answer 2

Making sure that all of the aids to navigation e.g next and previous buttons, pop ups, menus, icons etc all look the same screen to screen and that they appear in the same position on each page

Question 3

What is on screen help?

Answer 3

Should be an online help screen that helps how to do things simply with the use of example that I’ll be easy for novices to understand which will allow them to get help form the HCI rather than having to look in manuals or guides

Question 4

What is the layout appropriate to task?

Answer 4

So that the layout is appropriate for the people who will be actually using it as well as keeping it professional and fit for task e.g a HUI for children learning to spell will have a different layout to a piece of CAD software used by an architect to design complex buildings

Question 5

What is differentiation in user expertise?

Answer 5

The HCI will need to be designed to the ability/needs of the people who will be using it e.g a HUI for experts will have more shortcuts and more ways of performing the same operation where a HCI for novices will be more basic, easy to use and will include a help screen

Question 6

What is ability to be used by disabled people?

Answer 6

So people with special or particular needs or disabilities are able to use ICT system just as effectively as people without these needs making their lives more fulfilling

Question 7

In what ways can a website be made more accessible?

Answer 7

• ability to change the size of the text so that people with quite poor eyesight can use the website as they can make the text bigger so it is easier for them to read
• ability to be able to change the colour of the text or background will allow people who are dyslexic or colourblind to use the site as they can change the colour of text/background e.g to avoid colours such as the red/green combo making the information more visible for them to see
• ability to have the webpage read allowed will allow people with eye impairments to use the website as they can get the text read allowed so they don’t have to struggle to read it
• offer different languages so that people of different nationalities can cba he the language of the information to their own so they are not held back by the language choice.

Question 8

How can a HCI be adapted for an expert user?

Answer 8

• provide short cuts
  Experts often type at a high speed and will be able to memorise commands using combination keys and will save them time rather than using the mouse and clicking on icons and menus
• increased numbers of ways of carrying out the same operation