HCI - Factors

• Example every ‘Next’ should be in the same place using the same icon. 

• Navigation around the program should be clear consistent and easy to follow. 

• This makes the system intuitive i.e. easy to learn and therefore the user can learn faster. 

• Tool tips telling the user what to do

• Interactive user manual that answers general FAQ

• Wizards or online tutorials to take you through the task

• Rather than wasting time looking in manuals. This is important if no outside help available when working. 

• This is a priority for novice users 

NO MARKS if it can be read as a Google Search.

• There should be standard ‘feel’ to software which builds up user confidence 

• Uncluttered text for young children learning to read 

• Large/minimal text for a child to minimise reading which builds up user confidence. 

• Doing a repetitive task such as entering holiday bookings means you have less guidance on the screen 

• Bright colour scheme to attract a child's attention

• Lots of graphics/images and sound animation and use fun/friendly pictures

• Customised desktops for people such as CAD software e.g. Large empty area for a designer using an architect to maximise the drawing area. 

• Faster to type in for expert or you need to state a good example of differentiation between user expertise/ intended audience. Novice user will use wizards which are not as flexible as setting it out yourself. 

• HCI need to differentiate between non-technical and technical users. Technical users do not need a set of steps to get to a place, a travel agent who is using a system daily does not need guidance as they do the same steps daily. An expert user will need shortcuts so that the task can be completed as quickly as possible whereas a novice will need a number of steps to guide them .

• The novice user's priority will be ease of learning/intuitive. An expert user will want to get the job done in the least possible time e.g. know the commands. 

• Expert users will find it quicker than clicking through a series of windows e.g. using the DOS window to use ipconfig compared to getting the same information from Windows. 

• Increased number of ways of performing the same operation. 

• An expert user may use shortcuts rather than going through a series of menus. 

• Could provide tutorials for novice users / Novices will need easy access to help 

• Step by step approach / novice users should never be left wondering what to do next / wizards 

• Novice users tend to stick to the mouse/touch screen / Graphical user interface (GUI)

• Novice user will need clear navigation structure / colour scheme making it easier to use i.e. showing routes through a program (hyperlinks)

• Provide shortcuts for experts / command line interface

• Experts often type at high speed and can memorise key combinations/commands (1) and this is faster than using the mouse and clicking on icons or going through a series of windows 

• An expert can customise the interface to suit their needs 

• Increased numbers of ways of performing the same operation – interfaces have a number of routes and allow the user the choice, i.e. a novice user would prefer to use a drop down menu or click on an icon to print whilst an expert will want to use CTRL/P 

• It speeds things up if there is a similar route through the programs (if it is clear) as users do not have to keep learning things. 

• Saves time wasting, easier to work through. This is desirable for a novice user as it will help users learn their way around the system. 

• Location of where machine is to be used e.g. No sound in a noisy area.

• Touch screens in museums / factories / etc, (with explanation of why) e.g. more robust, less likely to be damaged unlike a keyboard/mouse

• e.g. So that it conveys who the organisation is and all the company docs look/feel the same. 

Makes it more efficient if the user can change items to suit their work preference.

• Font size is important – readability, appropriate to level of user, avoid eye strain. Visually impaired people can have their screens configured using large fonts.

• Able to magnify areas of the screen to aid users with bad/poor eyesight

• Use of Braille device - visually impaired people can also use Braille keyboards to enter the data and can use Braille printers to produce output which other blind people can read.

• Use visual messages on screen rather than beeps or warning noises for users who are deaf

• Colour is important, blue/yellow best combination (green/red blindness), must have the ability to customise. The colour scheme can make the system easier to use. Helps people who are colour blind/have dyslexia. Use plenty of contrast between the text and background to aid people with poor eyesight.

• Use of a large mouse or trackerball for people with poor coordination

• Use of specialist input devices such as those which use blow pipes or eye movements.  Blow pipes (sip and puff switches) or eye movements for entering text controlling devices for those who cannot use their arms, etc. 

• Brainwave controlled devices for physically handicapped with no arm/hand movement.

• Voice Recognition software or foot mouse for users who cannot use their hands. e.g. e.g. If a person is blind then the computer could recognise speech recognition/voice input/ Use of text to speech output.

• Sans serif font for dyslexia. 

• Visually impaired people can have their screens configured using large fonts. 

• Magnify areas of the screen for people with poor eyesight. 

• Visually impaired people can also use special Braille keyboards to enter the data and can use Braille printers to produce output which other blind people can read. 

• Visual messages on screen instead of sound for the deaf. 

• Use of correct colour schemes for colour blind people. 

• Use large mouse or trackerball for people with poor coordination. 

• Blow pipes (sip and puff switches) or eye movements for entering text controlling devices for those who cannot use their arms, etc. 

• Brainwave controlled devices for physically handicapped with no arm/hand movement. 

• Voice/Speech recognition software or foot mouse for users who cannot use their arms/hands / blind 

• If a person is visually impaired, then ICT can help them by getting the computer to speak the words when they are being typed in 

• San serif font for dyslexia e.g. A sans serif font is, as the name implies, a font without serifs. In typographic terms, serifs are the small strokes or extensions at the end of a longer stroke.

This font is Arial font and it is an example of a sans serif font.

This font is Times New Roman font and it is an example of a serif font.

• Blind people can have text read to them 

• DDA requirements for comments attached to images for blind users  (Disability Discrimation Act)