CS 3724CS 3724Introduction to HCIIntroduction to HCI

Dr. Scott McCrickardDr. Scott McCrickard

McBryde 626McBryde 626

mccricks@cs.vt.edumccricks@cs.vt.edu

Who are these people?Who are these people?

Dr. McCrickard (professor)Dr. McCrickard (professor)• assistant professor in CS since 2000assistant professor in CS since 2000• research interests include HCI, notification research interests include HCI, notification

systems, design reusesystems, design reuse Qing Li (teaching assistant)Qing Li (teaching assistant)

• Ph.D. student in computer sciencePh.D. student in computer science• interested in info vis and data aggregationinterested in info vis and data aggregation

Alan Fabian (teaching assistant)Alan Fabian (teaching assistant)• Master’s student in computer scienceMaster’s student in computer science• interested in notification systems design interested in notification systems design

and evaluationand evaluation

What is HCI?What is HCI?

The HumanThe Human• Single user, groups, I/O channels, memory, Single user, groups, I/O channels, memory,

reasoning, problem solving, error, psychologyreasoning, problem solving, error, psychology The ComputerThe Computer

• Desktop, embedded system, data entry Desktop, embedded system, data entry devices, output devices, memory, processingdevices, output devices, memory, processing

The InteractionThe Interaction• Direct/indirect communication, models, Direct/indirect communication, models,

frameworks, styles, ergonomicsframeworks, styles, ergonomics

HCI at VTHCI at VT

Scott McCrickardScott McCrickard Doug BowmanDoug Bowman Chris NorthChris North Manuel PerezManuel Perez

Francis QuekFrancis Quek Deborah TatarDeborah Tatar Steve HarrisonSteve Harrison Others in CS, ISE, …Others in CS, ISE, …

An Aside: VTURCSAn Aside: VTURCS

VTURCS = Virginia Tech Undergraduate VTURCS = Virginia Tech Undergraduate Research in Computer ScienceResearch in Computer Science

Work with professors on ongoing research Work with professors on ongoing research projects.projects.

Receive travel money to attend Receive travel money to attend conferences.conferences.

Present your work at annual symposium.Present your work at annual symposium.

Attend the Project Fair in mid-fall for details Attend the Project Fair in mid-fall for details (see http://vturcs.cs.vt.edu for details)(see http://vturcs.cs.vt.edu for details)

Three VTURCS OpportunitiesThree VTURCS Opportunities

Notification systems designerNotification systems designer• In-depth look at notification systems designIn-depth look at notification systems design• Extends work done in this classExtends work done in this class• Contact Dr. McCrickard for detailsContact Dr. McCrickard for details

LINK-UP system programmerLINK-UP system programmer• Implement usability engineering toolsImplement usability engineering tools• Paid positionPaid position• Contact Dr. McCrickard or Edwin Bachetti for detailsContact Dr. McCrickard or Edwin Bachetti for details

ADVANCE web interface developerADVANCE web interface developer• Develop web-centric applications and interfacesDevelop web-centric applications and interfaces• Help with the dissemination of information about female Help with the dissemination of information about female

participation in grad schoolparticipation in grad school• Paid positionPaid position• Contact Dr. McCrickard or Jamie Smith for detailsContact Dr. McCrickard or Jamie Smith for details

History and Future of HCIHistory and Future of HCI

Much of the class will consider Much of the class will consider systems that are in use todaysystems that are in use today

Class projects may speculate on Class projects may speculate on emerging (but feasible) paradigmsemerging (but feasible) paradigms

To understand present and future, To understand present and future, start with the emergence of HCIstart with the emergence of HCI

History of HCIHistory of HCI

Vannevar Bush, 1945 Vannevar Bush, 1945 “As We May Think” “As We May Think”

Vision of post-war Vision of post-war activities, Memexactivities, Memex

“…“…when one of these when one of these items is in view, the items is in view, the other can be instantly other can be instantly recalled merely by recalled merely by tapping a button”tapping a button”

History of HCI (con’d)History of HCI (con’d)

JCR Licklider, 1960 JCR Licklider, 1960 “Man-Computer Symbiosis”“Man-Computer Symbiosis”

Tightly coupled human brain and Tightly coupled human brain and machine, speech recognition, time machine, speech recognition, time sharing, character recognitionsharing, character recognition

History of HCI (con’d)History of HCI (con’d)

Douglas Engelbart, Douglas Engelbart, 1962 “Augmenting 1962 “Augmenting Human Intellect: A Human Intellect: A Conceptual Conceptual Framework”Framework”

In 1968, workstation In 1968, workstation with a mouse, links with a mouse, links across documents, across documents, chorded keyboardchorded keyboard

History of HCI (con’d)History of HCI (con’d)

XEROX Alto and XEROX Alto and StarStar• WindowsWindows• MenusMenus• ScrollbarsScrollbars• PointingPointing• ConsistencyConsistency

Apple LISA and MacApple LISA and Mac• InexpensiveInexpensive• High-quality High-quality

graphicsgraphics• 3rd party 3rd party

applicationsapplications

History (and future) of HCIHistory (and future) of HCI

Large displaysLarge displays Small displaysSmall displays Peripheral displaysPeripheral displays Alternative I/OAlternative I/O Ubiquitous Ubiquitous

computingcomputing Virtual Virtual

environmentsenvironments ImplantsImplants

Speech recognitionSpeech recognition MultimediaMultimedia Video conferencingVideo conferencing Artificial Artificial

intelligenceintelligence Software agentsSoftware agents Recommender Recommender

systemssystems ......

Why Usability Engineering?Why Usability Engineering?

Need an iterative discovery-oriented Need an iterative discovery-oriented processprocess• But at the same time need to manage itBut at the same time need to manage it

Demands well-defined process with Demands well-defined process with metricsmetrics• Specifying usability goals as objectivesSpecifying usability goals as objectives• Assessing and redesigning to meet these Assessing and redesigning to meet these

objectivesobjectives• Manage usability as a quality characteristic, Manage usability as a quality characteristic,

much like modularity or nonfunctional much like modularity or nonfunctional requirementsrequirements

How Do We Do It?How Do We Do It?

Need to capture, communicate, Need to capture, communicate, store, share, and reuse knowledgestore, share, and reuse knowledge

……and be able to find it again later!and be able to find it again later!

How Do We Do It?How Do We Do It?

Need to capture, communicate, Need to capture, communicate, store, share, and reuse knowledgestore, share, and reuse knowledge• WordsWords• PapersPapers• BooksBooks• LibrariesLibraries

……and be able to find it again later!and be able to find it again later!

Scenarios in UE:Scenarios in UE:A Simple ExampleA Simple Example

A student, Akbar, is working on a research paper in the lab. While working on the paper, he wishes to be informed of happenings in his community. Akbar uses the Notification Collage (NC), running on a second monitor, to inform him of such information with occasional glances. When shuffling through items on the NC, he sees that a project partner has found information of immediate relevance. Fortunate to learn this, Akbar includes the information in his paper, finishing early.

A scenario describing a situation:

Scenario-BasedDevelopment

1.3: Make decisions but keep options open.

scenarios are concrete

descriptions but are also very flexible

1.4: Analyze use but let it evolve.

scenarios describe use in detail, but as a tentative, working representation

1.5:

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scenarios focus on the usability consequences of specific design proposals

1.6: Be precise but include everyone on the team

scenarios describe the problem situation

using natural language understood by all stakeholders1.

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scenarios offer a vivid description of

use that provokes questions and “what

if” discussions

Why Scenarios?

Scenarios and ClaimsScenarios and Claims

Scenarios convey what actors are Scenarios convey what actors are like, what forces influence their like, what forces influence their behaviorbehavior

Claims elaborate on scenarios, Claims elaborate on scenarios, explaining how and why a feature explaining how and why a feature has impactshas impacts

Claims analysis documents why Claims analysis documents why scenarios were written by isolating scenarios were written by isolating the most important featuresthe most important features

Scenarios and ClaimsScenarios and ClaimsOrganizing Organizing information information using the using the collage collage metaphormetaphor

+ allows users to informally + allows users to informally post informationpost information

+ accommodates a wide + accommodates a wide range of different information range of different information typestypes

- BUT the lack of organization - BUT the lack of organization can hinder efforts to read/see can hinder efforts to read/see a particular itema particular item

- BUT overlapping items may - BUT overlapping items may force users to shuffle through force users to shuffle through themthem

Tradeoffs and SBDTradeoffs and SBD Design by definition is invention, creativityDesign by definition is invention, creativity

• Never just one approach, never one correct answerNever just one approach, never one correct answer• BUT some answers are demonstrably betterBUT some answers are demonstrably better

Interactive system design tremendously complexInteractive system design tremendously complex• Many interdependencies, eg schedule, cost, competitive Many interdependencies, eg schedule, cost, competitive

advantage, local expertise, ...advantage, local expertise, ...• Users and their needs are one large set of dependenciesUsers and their needs are one large set of dependencies

Tradeoffs are useful in analyzing these relationsTradeoffs are useful in analyzing these relations• Here, we focus on tradeoffs affecting Here, we focus on tradeoffs affecting users’ experiencesusers’ experiences• Guides design thinking, also serves as design rationaleGuides design thinking, also serves as design rationale

How Should We Measure How Should We Measure Usability?Usability?

Bottom line is whether the users got what Bottom line is whether the users got what they wanted, i.e., is the client satisfiedthey wanted, i.e., is the client satisfied

Practically speaking, need to break this Practically speaking, need to break this down so that we can down so that we can operationalizeoperationalize our our objectivesobjectives

Our textbook definition:Our textbook definition:The quality of an interactive computer system The quality of an interactive computer system

with respect to ease of learning, ease of use, with respect to ease of learning, ease of use, and user satisfactionand user satisfaction

• Can the users do what they want to do in a Can the users do what they want to do in a comfortable and pleasant fashion?comfortable and pleasant fashion?

Problem scenarios

summativeevaluation

Information scenarios

claims about current practice

analysis ofstakeholders,field studies

Usability specifications

Activityscenarios

Interaction scenarios

iterativeanalysis ofusability claims andre-design

metaphors,informationtechnology,HCI theory,guidelines

formativeevaluation

DESIGN

ANALYZE

PROTOTYPE & EVALUATE

Learning SBD — By ExampleLearning SBD — By Example Virtual science fair as a case studyVirtual science fair as a case study

• Complement to real world science fairsComplement to real world science fairs• Goal to extend interactions across time & spaceGoal to extend interactions across time & space

Cumulative, illustrates activities at each phaseCumulative, illustrates activities at each phase• Examples of methods used in projectsExamples of methods used in projects• Use as model for group materials & analysesUse as model for group materials & analyses

Many details specific to this exampleMany details specific to this example• E.g., collaboration, community network, educationE.g., collaboration, community network, education• Other case studies under construction on the Web at Other case studies under construction on the Web at

http://http://ucs.ist.psu.eduucs.ist.psu.edu

Scenarios in Usability EngineeringScenarios in Usability Engineering Stories of people and their activities, Stories of people and their activities,

sometimessometimes includes computer use, includes computer use, alwaysalways includes goalsincludes goals

Typical elements of the story are:Typical elements of the story are:• A A settingsetting• One or more One or more actorsactors or or agentsagents• An orienting or motivating An orienting or motivating goalgoal or or objectiveobjective• Mental activity, Mental activity, plansplans or or evaluationevaluation of behavior of behavior• A “storyline” sequenced by A “storyline” sequenced by actionsactions and and eventsevents

Emphasis on Emphasis on useuse, i.e., people’s needs, , i.e., people’s needs, expectations, actions, and reactionsexpectations, actions, and reactions

TextbookTextbook

Mary Beth Rosson Mary Beth Rosson and John M. Carroll, and John M. Carroll, Usability Usability Engineering: Engineering: Scenario-Based Scenario-Based Development of Development of HCI (RC)HCI (RC)

Other Useful BooksOther Useful Books

Ben Shneiderman, Ben Shneiderman, Designing the User Designing the User InterfaceInterface

Deborah Hix and Deborah Hix and Rex Hartson, HCIRex Hartson, HCI

Don Norman, Don Norman, Design of Everyday Design of Everyday ThingsThings

Fred Brooks, The Fred Brooks, The Mythical Man MonthMythical Man Month

Other ResourcesOther Resources

Email is the best way to contact Dr. Email is the best way to contact Dr. McCrickard (mccricks@cs.vt.edu), Qing McCrickard (mccricks@cs.vt.edu), Qing (qili4@vt.edu), and Alan (alfabian@cs.vt.edu)(qili4@vt.edu), and Alan (alfabian@cs.vt.edu)

Blackboard contains lecture slides, Blackboard contains lecture slides, assignments, signup sheets, discussion assignments, signup sheets, discussion boards, and related materials boards, and related materials

The listserv (cs3724_xxxxx@listserv.vt.edu) is The listserv (cs3724_xxxxx@listserv.vt.edu) is used only for time-sensitive postings by the used only for time-sensitive postings by the professor and GTAsprofessor and GTAs

EvaluationEvaluation

Group project (60%)Group project (60%) Homeworks (15%)Homeworks (15%) Activities (10%)Activities (10%) Midterm (5%)Midterm (5%) Final (10%)Final (10%) Extra credit (up to 3%)Extra credit (up to 3%)

Project Overview Project Overview

Group project with 4-5 people per groupGroup project with 4-5 people per group Projects will be graded per team, with a Projects will be graded per team, with a

component of the grade based on component of the grade based on individual effort as reported by individual effort as reported by membersmembers

Choose groups carefully – think about Choose groups carefully – think about when they can meet, where they live, when they can meet, where they live, what their skills arewhat their skills are

Maintain and post material on a project Maintain and post material on a project Web site (email location to coordinator)Web site (email location to coordinator)

Project TopicsProject Topics

All topics will relate to the emerging field of All topics will relate to the emerging field of notification systemsnotification systems

All projects will be centered around a All projects will be centered around a common theme (probably navigation-common theme (probably navigation-related)related)

Flexibility in terms of platforms, languages, Flexibility in terms of platforms, languages, targeted users, etc.targeted users, etc.

More details next weekMore details next week

AdminstriviaAdminstrivia

Force-adds and prerequisite formsForce-adds and prerequisite forms• Prerequisite is CS 2604, REQUIREDPrerequisite is CS 2604, REQUIRED• Everyone Everyone mustmust complete the forms complete the forms

TODAYTODAY• Must attend today AND WednesdayMust attend today AND Wednesday• Add decisions by next meetingAdd decisions by next meeting

AdminstriviaAdminstrivia

Force-adds and prerequisite formsForce-adds and prerequisite forms• Prerequisite is CS 2604, REQUIREDPrerequisite is CS 2604, REQUIRED• Everyone Everyone mustmust complete the forms complete the forms

TODAYTODAY• Must attend today AND WednesdayMust attend today AND Wednesday• Add decisions by next meetingAdd decisions by next meeting

For WednesdayFor Wednesday

Buy the Rosson and Carroll book (if Buy the Rosson and Carroll book (if you haven’t already)you haven’t already)

Read Chapter 1Read Chapter 1 Look through the whole bookLook through the whole book HW 1 to be assigned on WednesdayHW 1 to be assigned on Wednesday