INF1520
SUMMARY NOTES
, lOMoARcPSD|18222662
CONTENTS
Page
1 Lesson Tool 0: Module Orientation ............................................................................................. 3
1.1 Welcome Message ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 The way forward ............................................................................................................................. 4
1.4 Assessment .................................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Study Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 5
1.6 Relevant material to study .............................................................................................................. 5
1.7 Additional resources ....................................................................................................................... 5
2 LESSON TOOLS 1– 5 .................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Lesson Tool 1: Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction ......................................................... 5
2.2 Lesson Tool 2: Human Issues in HCI ........................................................................................... 22
2.3 Lesson Tool 3: Design Problems and Solutions ........................................................................... 49
2.4 Lesson Tool 4: Interaction Design ................................................................................................ 67
2.5 Lesson Tool 5: Social Aspects of Computer Use.......................................................................... 90
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 104
2
, lOMoARcPSD|18222662
INF1520/102/0/2023
1 Lesson Tool 0: Module Orientation
1.1 Welcome Message
Welcome to
INF1520
Human-Computer Interaction
Welcome to this module on human-computer interaction (HCI). We hope that you will find it
interesting and stimulating. INF1520 Human-Computer Interaction is a module that will broaden
your horizons to understand why pages are designed in the way that they are and how they
should be designed.
This module focuses on enhancing the quality of the interaction between humans and machines
and to systematically apply our knowledge about human purposes, capabilities, and limitations
as well as machine capabilities and limitations.
1.2 Overview
The module INF1520 is about Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The study of HCI is done to
determine how we can make computer technology more usable for people. The overall purpose
of the module is to:
• enhance the quality of the interaction between human and machine by systematically
applying our knowledge about the human purpose, capabilities, and limitations as well as
about machine capabilities and limitations
• develop or improve productivity and the functionality, safety, utility, effectiveness,
efficiency, and usability of systems that include computers (Preece et al 2007; Preece et
al 2014)
This requires an understanding of the:
• computer technology involved
• people who interact with the computer technology
• design of interactive systems and interfaces which are usable
• broader impact of computer technology on society and on our social, personal and
working environment
These four strands form the focus of this module.
Outcomes
On completing of this module, you should have a knowledge and an understanding of:
• the history of human-computer interaction and its current status
• the differences between users and designers
• the perceptual, cognitive and physical characteristics of computer users
3
, lOMoARcPSD|18222662
• factors such as culture, personality and age that may influence the design and usability
of software especially in organisations
• typical mistakes designers make and guidelines and principles to address these
• the different types of interfaces that computer systems can have
• techniques to evaluate interactive systems
• the impact of computers on society
1.3 The way forward
INF1520 is an online module, so you need to use myUnisa to study and complete the learning
activities for this module. Because this is an online module, you may need to go online to see
your study materials and read what to do for the module. Go to the website
https://my.unisa.ac.za and login with your student number and password. You will see INF1520-
23-Y in the row of modules in the orange blocks across the top of the webpage. Remember to
also check in the More tab if you cannot find it in the orange blocks. Click on the module you
want to open. You need to visit the websites on myUnisa for INF1520 frequently. The website
for your module is INF1520-23-Y.
This TUT102 serves as your study guide and learning material.
There is no prescribed textbook for the module.
Lecturer(s)
Students may contact lecturers by mail, e-mail or telephone. We recommend the use of e-mail.
The COSALLF tutorial letter contains the names and contact details of your INF1520 lecturer.
Students may also make an appointment to see a lecturer, but this has to be done well in
advance. Students should mention their student number in all communications with lecturers.
Department
In the meantime, if you would like to speak to a lecturer, you may contact the secretary of the
School of Computing at 011 471 2816. Remember to mention your student number. This is for
academic queries only. Please do not contact the School about missing tutorial matter,
cancellation of a module, payments, enquiries about the registration of assignments, and so on,
but rather the relevant department as indicated in the brochure Study @ Unisa.
University
For more information on myUnisa, consult the brochure Study@Unisa, which you received with
your study material: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies. This brochure contains information
about computer laboratories, the library, myUnisa, assistance with study skills, et cetera. It also
contains the contact details of several Unisa departments, for example, Examinations,
Assignments, Despatch, Finances and Student Administration. Remember to mention your
student number when contacting the university.
1.4 Assessment
The assignment details are included in the Tutorial Letter 101 which will be posted to you and
will be available under the study material tool on the myUnisa page.
4
SUMMARY NOTES
, lOMoARcPSD|18222662
CONTENTS
Page
1 Lesson Tool 0: Module Orientation ............................................................................................. 3
1.1 Welcome Message ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 The way forward ............................................................................................................................. 4
1.4 Assessment .................................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Study Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 5
1.6 Relevant material to study .............................................................................................................. 5
1.7 Additional resources ....................................................................................................................... 5
2 LESSON TOOLS 1– 5 .................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Lesson Tool 1: Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction ......................................................... 5
2.2 Lesson Tool 2: Human Issues in HCI ........................................................................................... 22
2.3 Lesson Tool 3: Design Problems and Solutions ........................................................................... 49
2.4 Lesson Tool 4: Interaction Design ................................................................................................ 67
2.5 Lesson Tool 5: Social Aspects of Computer Use.......................................................................... 90
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 104
2
, lOMoARcPSD|18222662
INF1520/102/0/2023
1 Lesson Tool 0: Module Orientation
1.1 Welcome Message
Welcome to
INF1520
Human-Computer Interaction
Welcome to this module on human-computer interaction (HCI). We hope that you will find it
interesting and stimulating. INF1520 Human-Computer Interaction is a module that will broaden
your horizons to understand why pages are designed in the way that they are and how they
should be designed.
This module focuses on enhancing the quality of the interaction between humans and machines
and to systematically apply our knowledge about human purposes, capabilities, and limitations
as well as machine capabilities and limitations.
1.2 Overview
The module INF1520 is about Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The study of HCI is done to
determine how we can make computer technology more usable for people. The overall purpose
of the module is to:
• enhance the quality of the interaction between human and machine by systematically
applying our knowledge about the human purpose, capabilities, and limitations as well as
about machine capabilities and limitations
• develop or improve productivity and the functionality, safety, utility, effectiveness,
efficiency, and usability of systems that include computers (Preece et al 2007; Preece et
al 2014)
This requires an understanding of the:
• computer technology involved
• people who interact with the computer technology
• design of interactive systems and interfaces which are usable
• broader impact of computer technology on society and on our social, personal and
working environment
These four strands form the focus of this module.
Outcomes
On completing of this module, you should have a knowledge and an understanding of:
• the history of human-computer interaction and its current status
• the differences between users and designers
• the perceptual, cognitive and physical characteristics of computer users
3
, lOMoARcPSD|18222662
• factors such as culture, personality and age that may influence the design and usability
of software especially in organisations
• typical mistakes designers make and guidelines and principles to address these
• the different types of interfaces that computer systems can have
• techniques to evaluate interactive systems
• the impact of computers on society
1.3 The way forward
INF1520 is an online module, so you need to use myUnisa to study and complete the learning
activities for this module. Because this is an online module, you may need to go online to see
your study materials and read what to do for the module. Go to the website
https://my.unisa.ac.za and login with your student number and password. You will see INF1520-
23-Y in the row of modules in the orange blocks across the top of the webpage. Remember to
also check in the More tab if you cannot find it in the orange blocks. Click on the module you
want to open. You need to visit the websites on myUnisa for INF1520 frequently. The website
for your module is INF1520-23-Y.
This TUT102 serves as your study guide and learning material.
There is no prescribed textbook for the module.
Lecturer(s)
Students may contact lecturers by mail, e-mail or telephone. We recommend the use of e-mail.
The COSALLF tutorial letter contains the names and contact details of your INF1520 lecturer.
Students may also make an appointment to see a lecturer, but this has to be done well in
advance. Students should mention their student number in all communications with lecturers.
Department
In the meantime, if you would like to speak to a lecturer, you may contact the secretary of the
School of Computing at 011 471 2816. Remember to mention your student number. This is for
academic queries only. Please do not contact the School about missing tutorial matter,
cancellation of a module, payments, enquiries about the registration of assignments, and so on,
but rather the relevant department as indicated in the brochure Study @ Unisa.
University
For more information on myUnisa, consult the brochure Study@Unisa, which you received with
your study material: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies. This brochure contains information
about computer laboratories, the library, myUnisa, assistance with study skills, et cetera. It also
contains the contact details of several Unisa departments, for example, Examinations,
Assignments, Despatch, Finances and Student Administration. Remember to mention your
student number when contacting the university.
1.4 Assessment
The assignment details are included in the Tutorial Letter 101 which will be posted to you and
will be available under the study material tool on the myUnisa page.
4
