Intro to HCI

Intro to HCI

DC Grant - University of Washington

What is interaction design?

Designing interactive products to support the way people communicate and interact in their everyday and working lives.

_{–Sharp, Rogers and Preece (2011)}

Goals of interaction design

• Develop usable products

– Usability implies easy to learn, effective to use and provides an enjoyable experience through use of the product

• Involve users in the design process

The User Experience

• How a product behaves and is used by people in the real world.

– the way people feel about it and their pleasure and satisfaction when using it, looking at it, holding it, and opening or closing it.

– “every product that is used by someone has a user experience: newspapers, ketchup bottles, reclining armchairs, cardigan sweaters.”

^{(Garrett, 2003)}

• Can't design a user experience, only design for a user experience.

Characteristics of Interaction Design

• Product users are involved through the development of the project

• Specific usability and user experience goals need to be identified, clearly documented and agreed at the beginning of the project

• Iteration is needed through design and prototyping activities

Usability Goals

• Effective to use

• Efficient to use

• Safe for everyone

• Practical utility (useful)

• Easy to learn and use

• Easy to remember how