Aspects Of Human-computer Interaction Research Articles

Security and human computer interfaces

Computer users are exposed to technology mainly through user interfaces. Most users' perceptions are based on their experience with these interfaces. HCI (human computer interaction) is concerned with these interfaces and how they can be improved. Considerable research has been conducted and major advances have been made in the area of HCI. Information security is becoming increasingly important and more complex as business is conducted electronically. However, state-of-the-art security-related product development has ignored general aspects of HCI. The objective of this paper is to promote and enable security awareness of end-users in their interaction with computer systems. It thus aims to consolidate and integrate the two fields of information security and HCI. HCI as a research discipline is a well developed field of study, and the authors are of the opinion that the use of security technologies can be significantly enhanced by employing proven HCI concepts in the design of these technologies. In order to achieve this, various criteria for a successful HCI in a security-specific environment will be examined. Part of the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall will be used as a case study and analysed according to these criteria, and recommendations will be made.

Usability evaluation and PPGIS: towards a user-centred design approach

Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) is a field of research that, among other things, focuses on the use of GIS by non-experts and occasional users. These users tend to have a diverse range of computer literacy, world views, cultural backgrounds and knowledge. These aspects require that the systems used within PPGIS are accessible and easy to use. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and the related usability evaluation techniques focus on how to make computer systems more accessible, while focusing on user needs and requirements. Thus, the synergy between PPGIS and HCI seems natural. In this paper, we discuss the aspects of this synergy, building on our experience from three workshops. We demonstrate how usability evaluation can contribute to PPGIS research, and how PPGIS research can contribute to the HCI aspects of GIS in general. We conclude this paper with a call for a user-centred design approach to PPGIS projects.

Evaluating the use of a virtual learning environment for teaching aspects of HCI

In this paper, we describe the results of evaluating a taught module in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The focus of this paper is on the use of a virtual learning environment (VLE) - in the case WebCT - as a vehicle for both the taught content and assessment and for demonstrating important aspects of HCI. Evidence of student learning is presented and evaluated, including examples of work submitted through the VL, and the results of an evaluation questionnaire.

Syndetic Modelling

User and system models typically are viewed as independent representations that provide complementary insights into aspects of human-computer interaction. Within system development, it is usual to see the 2 activities as separate, or at best loosely coupled, with either the design artifact or some third "mediatiag" expression providing the context in which the results of modelling can be related. This article proposes that formal system models can be combined directly with a representation of human cognition to yield an integrated view of human-system interaction: a syndetic model. Aspects of systems that affect usability then can be described and understood in terms of the conjoint behavior of user and computer. This article introduces and discusses, in syndetic terms, 2 scenarios with markedly different properties. We show how syndesis can provide a formal foundation for reasoning about interaction.

Designing for Human-Agent Interaction

Interacting with a computer requires adopting some metaphor to guide our actions and expectations. Most human-computer interfaces can be classified according to two dominant metaphors: (1) agent and (2) environment. Interactions based on an agent metaphor treat the computer as an intermediary that responds to user requests. In the environment metaphor, a model of the task domain is presented for the user to interact with directly. The term agent has come to refer to the automation of aspects of human-computer interaction (HCI), such as anticipating commands or autonomously performing actions. Norman's 1984 model of HCI is introduced as reference to organize and evaluate research in human-agent interaction (HAI). A wide variety of heterogeneous research involving HAI is shown to reflect automation of one of the stages of action or evaluation within Norman's model. Improvements in HAI are expected to result from a more heterogeneous use of methods that target multiple stages simultaneously.

A Comparison of Three Methods of Task Analysis: Cognitive Analysis, Graph-Matrix Analysis, and Self-Organizing Networks

Three methods of performing a task analysis are compared: cognitive analysis, graph-matrix analysis, and self-organizing networks. Cognitive analysis relies on the ability of an observer to abstract and generalize over situations. Graph-matrix analysis is valuable for its precision an inclusion of details. Neural networks have an ability to generalize uninfluenced by observer bias. Comparison demonstrates that each method misses some important but different aspect of human-computer interaction. The cognitive analysis included infrequently used information that was not captured by direct observation. The graph-matrix analysis included frequency of use information and details missed by the cognitive analysis. The self-organizing network generated an alternative view of the task structure that was not influenced by observer bias. It showed that the underlying structure for the user-computer interaction in this study was the structure of the computer system itself.

Human-computer interaction

All aspects of human-computer interaction, from the high-level concerns of organizational context and system requirements to the conceptual, semantic, syntactic, and lexical levels of user interface design, are ultimately funneled through physical input and output actions and devices. The fundamental task in computer input is to move information from the brain of the user to the computer. Progress in this discipline attempts to increase the useful bandwidth across that interface by seeking faster, more natural, and more convenient means for a user to transmit information to a computer. This article mentions some of the technical background for this area, surveys the range of input devices currently in use and emerging, and considers future trends in input.

An overview of human-computer interaction

This article presents an overview of the field of human-computer interaction. This branch of computer science concerns the design, implementation and analysis of interactive computer systems. We show that this field is multidisciplinary in essence, involving social scientists as well as computer scientists, experts of application domains, graphics designers, etc. Once the fundamental aspects of human-computer interaction are presented, we take a practical approach in order to introduce the methods, tools and techniques that are available today for the design and implementation of interactive computer systems. Finally, we present the main directions of research in this domain.

Experiences from a Prototype Environment for Intelligent Modelling and Simulation

Over a number of years, a prototype CACSD environment for intelligent modelling and simulation has been developed, under the generic name of KEMS (Knowledgebased Environment for Modelling and Simulation). Commencing from a functional specification embodying a number of expert system styles, the prototype software has been expanded to cover several phases in the modelling and simulation cycle. These now include frame-based model building and simulation code generation, knowledge acquisition of models, and model validation. Experiences gained from these studies are described, together with discussion of HCI (Human Computer Interaction) aspects and further plans for incorporation into the Environment of advanced features such as hierarchical modelling and bond graph methodologies

Towards an understanding of human-computer interaction aspects of geographic information systems

As geographic information systems (GIS) technology matures and develops sophisticated decision support applications, there is an increasing need to optimise human-computer interaction (HCI) aspects. Although further advances in graphic interface design and operator training are required, the principal challenge is now in the ergonomics of shared cognitive responsibility between operator and computer system. A sound and comprehensive theoretical framework is required to understand and develop this relationship. Mental modelling provides an appropriate psychological paradigm which may be applied through arranging appropriate levels of cognitive control, (modes of engagement), for GIS operations. The validation of such a theoretical model demands the use of appropriate research methodologies within a multi-disciplinary HCI in GIS research program. A substantial reference list is provided to assist research in this field.

COMPREHENSION OF PASCAL STATEMENTS BY NOVICE AND EXPERT PROGRAMMERS

The principles of cognitive psychology and human factors have been successfully applied to many aspects of human-computer interaction. Nevertheless, programming remains a difficult task. Researchers suggest that programming is a cognitively demanding task because of its inherent problem-solving nature (Nickerson, 1986; Anderson, 1985). Previous work has shown that comprehension of Basic statements depends on both the macrostructure and the microstructure of the statement (Dyck & Mayer, 1985).

Practical and Theoretical Aspects of Human Computer Interaction

Etat de la recherche en matiere d'interaction homme-ordinateur dans les domaines suivants: les modeles d'utilisateur, les modeles de tâche, le role des methodes formelles dans les specifications de la conception d'un systeme, le role ergonomique des prototypes et la place de l'evaluation

Practical and Theoretical Aspects of Human Computer Interaction

Practical and Theoretical Aspects of Human Computer Interaction

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE BACKGROUND AND CURRENT STATUS OF THE HFS HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Since late 1985, the Human Factors Society (HFS) Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Standards Committee has been working to construct a framework for the development of guidelines and standards in the area of software ergonomics (which includes most software-defined aspects of human-computer interaction) in a manner which is consistent with the professional standards of the society.

Information-Processing Approaches to the Study of Human-Computer Interaction

This symposium brings together several researchers studying different aspects of human-computer interaction. All of the researchers share the assumption that it is important to understand the cognitive processes involved in human-computer situations. Each presentation focuses on a unique aspect of the cognitive component of human-computer situations, however. Human-computer interaction is a growing area that includes many human factors issues. Physical factors in human-computer situations are common across the range tasks for which computers are used and are similar to traditional ergonomic considerations in other contexts. When the focus is on human performance in a particular task, however, the important issues become the design of the software interface and the cognitive components involved in manipulating the interface and understanding the system behind it. We hope that this set of talks will focus interest on “cognitive human factors” and provide insight into which components of the cognitive system are relevant to particular kinds of tasks and which methodologies might be appropriate in different research contexts. Thus, the tasks studied and methodologies discussed are diverse. Two studies focus on procedural skills (text editing and image processing). The researchers in these cases describe plans and strategies and rely on naturalistic observation and formal simulation to characterize the observed behavior. Another study focuses on database manipulation and utilizes a more traditional experimental methodology. The researcher describes the characteristics of different memory representations resulting from different database interfaces and shows the importance of “interface-representation compatability.” Yet another study concerns the task of software development. The researcher examines problem solving strategies and the interaction between development methodology and the programming problem to be solved. Finally, one presentation explicitly explores the use of a particular theoretical orientation and research tool, signal detection theory, in the general context of human-computer interaction.

Human-computer interaction: A preliminary social psychological analysis

Considering an interactive computer as a social stimulus suggests that contemporary social psychological theories can contribute to the prediction of user attitude and performance. In order to assist in the systematic exploration of this possibility, we developed DIALOGUE, an on-line system to investigate the effects of varying the computer’s responses to the user. This system involves a presentation program that displays the computer’s responses, performs the pacing of video information, and collects a variety of measurements, including the user’s response time and the number of correct/incorrect user responses. DIALOGUE also includes a data manager that allows the experimenter to examine or modify the information collected by the presentation program. Utilizing DIALOGUE, we conducted a preliminary investigation of one aspect of human-computer interaction, the effects of varying the degree of human-like responses exhibited by the computer. Results suggest that (1) there are underlying dimensions of judgment involving perception of interactive computers, (2) a manipulation of human-like computer responses is reflected primarily in certain of these dimensions, and (3) such a manipulation influences user performance and feelings of responsibility. Factors related to the implementation of DIALOGUE are considered, and its potential for investigations of a variety of human-computer interactions is discussed.

Guidelines and Criteria for Human-Computer Interface Design of Battlefield Automated Systems

The concept of Behavioral Interoperability is propounded and discussed. Interoperability is recognized as an important design goal with respect to various physical/mechanical components of computerized systems. It would be productive to extend the concept to the behavioral domain. A methodology that has proved useful in deriving guidelines for higher order aspects of human-computer interaction is described. The method is based on a comparative analysis of common or universal transactions associated with existing data processing system. An example of the format and content of a preliminary set of guidelines is provided.