You will develop an interactive implementation of an HCI encyclopedia, consistin

Question

You will develop an interactive implementation of an HCI encyclopedia, consisting of about 6 web pages. This is only a specimen prototype, and repetition of the same type of output is not required. The implementation should have about 3 or 4 generic pages—such as a Main page, Help page, and Error page—and several content pages. The HCI encyclopedia can be on any subject (e.g., football, reading, bird watching, running a club) and forms the basis for applying accessibility requirements. You will plan the design for an interactive implementation as a generic interface, suitable for any type of user, and be able to accomplish the following at the end of the 5 Units. Provide more information upon user request. Provide hierarchical navigation. The user must be able to navigate from one page to another without using the browser’s Back button. The hierarchy should show the page the user has come from and the current page. Allow the user to return to the Main Page or use Help at any time. Present the Main page using accessibility features.

Explanation / Answer

Human Computer Interaction is a term that you may or may not have heard. So let’s explore what it is, and what role it can play in your Website development.

A Definition

Human Computer Interaction, or HCI, is the study, planning, and design of what happens when you and a computer work together. As its name implies, HCI consists of three parts: the user, the computer itself, and the ways they work together.

The User

When we talk about HCI, we don’t necessarily imagine a single user with a desktop computer. By "user", we may mean an individual user, a group of users working together, or maybe even a series of users in an organisation, each involved with some part of the job or development. The user is whoever is trying to get the job done using the technology. An appreciation of the way people’s sensory systems (sight, hearing, touch) relay information is vital to designing a first-class product. For example, display layouts should accommodate the fact that people can be sidetracked by the smallest movement in the outer (peripheral) part of their visual fields, so only important areas should be specified by moving or blinking visuals. And of course, people like designs that grab their attention. Designers must decide how to make products attractive without distracting users from their tasks.

The Computer

When we talk about the computer, we’re referring to any technology ranging from desktop computers, to large scale computer systems — even a process control system or an embedded system could be classed as the computer. For example, if we were discussing the design of a Website, then the Website itself would be referred to as "the computer".

The Interaction

There are obvious differences between humans and machines. In spite of these, HCI attempts to ensure that they both get on with each other and interact successfully. In order to achieve a usable Website, you need to apply what you know about humans and computers, and consult with likely users throughout the design process. You need to find a reasonable balance between what can be done within the schedule and budget, and what would be ideal for your users.

The Goals of HCI

The goals of HCI are to produce usable and safe systems, as well as functional systems. In order to produce computer systems with good usability, developers must attempt to:

Underlying the whole theme of HCI is the belief that people using a computer system should come first. Their needs, capabilities and preferences for conducting various tasks should direct developers in the way that they design systems. People should nothave to change the way that they use a system in order to fit in with it. Instead, the system should be designed to match their requirements.

The same goals can be applied to Website development. Websites should be usable and safe, as well as functional, so that users can perform the task at hand without any obvious problems or usability errors.

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