Human–computer interaction (HCI) is the study, planning and design of the interaction between people (users) and computers.
33
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5answers
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What research is there suggesting modal dialogs are disruptive?
It seems "Everyone" knows they're highly disruptive for many situations but often times clients don't. Particularly in desktop applications this form of dialog is often misused, often disrupting a ...
29
votes
7answers
2k views
What are the usability benefits of using multiple monitors?
I've read a lot of articles suggesting that work patterns are more effective when using more than one monitor. But why is that the case, from an HCI perspective?
And as follow-up questions, are there ...
22
votes
2answers
442 views
Defining “Instantaneous” as part of usability acceptance criteria
The Setup
I have run into this problem time and time again. An interface is performing slow and QA and/or Engineering come back and ask, "can you please define the acceptance criteria for how fast ...
9
votes
7answers
2k views
Why don't people use the “I'm feeling lucky” button more often?
Have you ever seen or heard of someone using it?
Back in the days when Google didn't automatically redirected you to the results page as you typed, I think not a lot of people used the "I'm Feeling ...
8
votes
3answers
185 views
To lower user's cognitive memory load or not?
Naturally, it sounds like it is only best for our users if our design could reduce user's cognitive workload when performing a task.
However, there are also theories that explain the need for a ...
8
votes
4answers
298 views
Should we be designing for touch first?
Touch interaction is becoming more ubiquitous and often the only option. Should we be designing for touch first or even touch only?
What are the ramifications of taking this approach?
As someone ...
6
votes
3answers
145 views
Teaching HCI to graphic design students
I'll be teaching an undergrad course in HCI to graphic design students.
I'm looking for assignment ideas.
The assignment should lend itself to research by the students, and be inspiring enough to keep ...
6
votes
1answer
152 views
How do users use spatial memory?
I have some questions about how spatial memory works and the effects on user interfaces:
Do users seek items by spatial memory? What do they actually "link" to a position - a particular object ...
4
votes
5answers
368 views
Benefits of recording user facial expressions when testing
Every "proper" test setup seems to include a camera / webcam for recording the user and a lot of articles I've read in the past recommend it as part of a setup, but sources never really go into a ...
4
votes
2answers
429 views
Use of 'she' in scientific literature
While reading through plenty of scientific papers for my thesis relating to Human Computer Interaction (HCI), I am under the impression almost everybody refers to users/subjects/persons/... as 'she'.
...
3
votes
2answers
217 views
Simulate Eye-tracking by Photoshop filters?
I've read some articles about visual perception and that it mostly differs in High-frequency, Mid-frequency and Low-frequency recognition. Whereas Low-freq is fastest and seems to be responsible for ...
3
votes
3answers
115 views
Is it necessary to include an interface's “hidden functions” in the manual / help?
Background
A well designed interface allows any type of user, beginner, advanced, or expert, to achieve their objective quickly. In most cases, help information contains the description of elements ...
3
votes
1answer
210 views
How to break into the field of HCI?
Before you make a remark of this has been asked over and again, let me point out that I have done my research -
Do I have the skills for UX?
As a programmer, how do I move into UX?
Getting into ...
3
votes
3answers
129 views
Developer with HCI background studying graphic design
I'm thinking about going to design school for a year, studying graphic design.
I want to get work as a UX designer/researcher, with the possibility of day to day activities like user research, user ...
2
votes
2answers
61 views
Research on more effective search systems based on Human–computer information retrieval?
Within the field of User Experience, a lot of interdisciplinary boundaries intersect and co-exist finding new knowledge from different views. One part where results have yet to come (?) is the field ...
2
votes
2answers
79 views
How do I figure out what people need by observing?
I'm taking an online HCI class over at https://www.coursera.org/ Our first assignment is a "needfinding" assignment, where I'm supposed to observe people and come up with an idea of how technology can ...
1
vote
2answers
157 views
Is HCI applicable to game design in the way I'm trying to apply it?
Say if I wanted to create a new platform in a game like the mobile game doodle jump. The differences in the different platforms are actually subtle changes in different parts of the feedback loop. If ...
1
vote
1answer
112 views
designing interface for choosing between two images
This is a general question about HCI. I was wondering what are some of the best examples of UIs you've seen that presents a user two images and has them choose which one of them is better. I have ...
0
votes
1answer
116 views
What scholarly UX publications do you know of? [closed]
There's a difference between anecdote/experience-derived UX ideas and UX ideas based on scientific studies. Anyone know where I can get more of the latter?
I'm aware of "Ergonomics in Design: The ...
0
votes
0answers
104 views
Interaction Design, User Centered Design, User Experience and HCI [closed]
Can someone give me please a comparison in a nutshell?
