What is Human Computer Interaction (HCI)?
The term HCI was adopted in the 1980s to describe a field of study which focuses on all aspects of human interaction with computers. This includes the user interface (Preece et al. 1994:7) or ‘those aspects of the system that the user comes in contact with’ (Moran cited in Preece et al. 1994:7), as well as issues such as training, work processes, management and organisation of enterprises for example (Preece et al. 1994:7).
Preece et al. offer two defintions of HCI. First, as a
set of processes, dialogues, and actions through which a human user employs and interacts with a computer (Baecker and Buxton cited in Preece et al. 1994:7).
Second and more broadly, HCI is a
discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them (ACM SIGCHI cited in Preece et al. 1994:7).
HCI aims to produce systems that are usable, safe and functional. HCI prioritises people rather than technology, that is,
their needs, capabilities and preferences for performing various activities should inform the ways in which systems are designed and implemented (Preece et al. 1994:14-15).
Central to achieving this is the idea of 'usability', which concerns the development of products that are easily learned, effective and enjoyable to use (Preece et al. 2002:14-15).
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