Human – Computer Interaction

Human–computer interaction (HCI) is a flourishing field of research about the interaction between human beings and computer technologies. HCI theories and research seek to understand the various rules that human beings employ to communi­ cate with computers and explore creative ways of designing computer‐based interfaces to improve usability and the quality of user experience. HCI applications are seen in many domains—information kiosks, computer terminals, interactive Web sites, electronic games, mobile devices and robots, to name a few. Humans are not only the end users of such technologies, but also an essential part of the design process. By inves­ tigating how humans use interactive, computer‐based technologies, HCI design strives to create systems that can offer a smooth interaction between humans and computers. HCI is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates cognitive psychology, behavioral science, anthropology, computer science, industrial engineering, sociology, communication, and many other disciplines. Research in the area mainly consists of two perspectives—computer science/engineering and social science/humanities— creating an “essential tension” that contributes to its vitality (Carroll, 2006). From the computer science/engineering perspective, HCI concentrates on interface and system design to optimize usability. Designers and engineers create software to build graphical interfaces and user‐friendly systems (e.g., interactive features on Web sites, context‐aware systems, information visualization, etc.) that facilitate the interaction between humans and com­ puters. From the social‐scientific/humanistic perspective, HCI examines the cognitive and behavioral processes of users when they communicate with machines or with each other via the help of these technologies, as well as the social structures that are built around these interactions. In order to achieve natural and smooth communication bet­ ween humans and computers, designers commonly use the metaphor of interpersonal communication to inform the design of computers and related media interfaces.