1 Key Concepts for Interactive Systems

1. Batch: one computer for a task chained sequentially

2. Command line interface: text-based user interfaces to manage the computer

3. WIMP: graphical user interfaces

4. Multimodal interfaces: use different human senses to interact (natural language, touch…)

An Information system is a socio-technical system composed of the elements user, task, and technology.

An interactive system is a socio-technical system in which users perform tasks by using interactive technology in a specific context (environment and resources) in order to achieve specified goals and outcomes.

• User: a person who interacts with an interactive technology to perform a task.

• Task: a set of activities to achieve a specific goal.

• Interactive technologies: are tools available to users to interact with computers (there are input and output devices).

• Context:

  • Environment: physical, social and technical conditions in which a user interacts with an interactive system.

  • Resources: all means and resources (equipment, information, time, effort, financial resources…) required to use an interactive system.

• Goals: are the intended outcome a user wants to achieve.

  • They are used in HCD to express the intention of users at a high level.

  • They are typically in the form of a condition or state and related to a “user need”.

• Outcomes: can be manifold (psychological or economic).

  • Typical non-functional outcomes in interactive systems are accessibility, usability and UX.

Communication is a 2-way process of mutual understanding.

It’s a chain of physical world to meaning:

1. Signal → is the physical thing happening to communicate something (change in voltage, light, sounds waves).

2. Message → is the signal stored in a processable form (it represents information)

3. Data → is the message in a fixed structure so that i can be interpreted

4. Information → what it actually means once interpreted

ISO 9241

• Accessibility is the extent to which a system enables users to interact regardless of disabilities (vision, hearing, dexterity, cognition, mobility…).

• Usability is the extent to which a system can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals in a specified context of use.

  • Usability can’t be judged without users, goals, tasks and context.

• The usability is about effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction during use.

• The user experience is about general perceptions and responses from a user during anticipated use, use, and after use.

  • That can be emotions, beliefs, preferences, comfort, behaviors, accomplishments...

It comes from:

• the brand and system → brand image, presentation, functionality, performance, interactivity, assistance...

• from the user → prior experiences, attitudes, skills, abilities and personality

• from the context of use.

• Software engineering is the application of engineering to software.

  • Uses a systematic, disciplined, measurable engineering approach to develop, operate and maintain software.

• Information systems engineering is an interdisciplinary approach for information systems that considers business and technical needs of users.

  • Defines user needs and requirements early and then moves on to design, validation and deployment while considering the complete problem.

• Methods are a systematical way of thinking (e.g. scrum, SAFe) → provide product and process perspective

• Techniques are step-by-step procedures

• Tools are software/instruments

• We use them because

  • they provide best practices

  • they help beginners

  • they create routines

  • they help scaling

• individuals & interactions over processes & tools

• working software over comprehensive documentation

• customer collaboration over contract negotiation

• responding to change over following a plan

Design means solving real-world problems through practical solutions to create value for humans (design as process + outcome).

• discover

• define

• develop

• deliver

It’s a design approach that encompasses 6 principles:

• design is based on the explicit understanding of users, tasks and environments

• humans are involved throughout all stages

• user-centered evaluation to drive and refine the design

• the process is iterative

• the design adresses the whole UX

• design team includes multidisciplinary skills and perspectives