INF1520
Assignment 3
Unique code:
Due July 2025
,INF1520
Assignment 3
Due: July 2025
Critical Reflections on Human–Computer Interaction and Multimedia Integration
1. Introduction
Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) is a vital area of study that explores how people
interact with digital technologies, systems, and interfaces. It draws from multiple
disciplines including computer science, psychology, sociology, cognitive science,
design, and ergonomics, to ensure that systems are not only functional but also user-
friendly, efficient, accessible, and inclusive.
In an age where technology has become deeply woven into nearly every sphere of
life—education, healthcare, banking, communication, entertainment,
transportation, and governance—the quality of user interfaces significantly impacts
people's productivity, satisfaction, and even safety. Poor interface design can lead to
user frustration, reduced efficiency, and in critical sectors such as medicine or aviation,
even catastrophic failure.
One of the core principles of HCI is user-centered design (UCD), which places the
user’s needs, limitations, and context at the center of the design process. This means
that designers must understand who their users are, what they need to accomplish,
what their technological skills are, and how environmental or cultural factors may affect
their interaction with a system.
Another key concept is usability, which refers to how effectively, efficiently, and
satisfactorily a user can achieve a task using a particular system. Usability includes
ease of learning, ease of use, error frequency and recovery, satisfaction, and
memorability.
The rise of multimedia integration—combining text, sound, images, video, and
interactivity in digital platforms—has further emphasized the need for effective HCI.
, Multimedia elements must be seamlessly integrated in ways that support user goals
rather than distract or confuse. For example, multimedia learning environments in
education must align with cognitive load theory, ensuring that content is engaging
without overwhelming the user.
Importantly, HCI does not exist in a vacuum. Interface and system designs are shaped
by historical conventions, technological constraints, market forces, and social
norms. As such, this assignment not only explores HCI principles but also reflects
critically on how legacy design choices—such as the QWERTY keyboard layout—
continue to influence today’s digital interactions.
2. Keyboard Layout and Interface Design Mistakes
2.1 The QWERTY Keyboard Arrangement
The QWERTY keyboard layout, named after the first six letters on the top-left of the
keyboard, was originally developed in 1873 by Christopher Latham Sholes, the
inventor of the typewriter. The primary goal of the design was not typing efficiency but
rather to prevent mechanical jamming. In early typewriters, striking two frequently-
used keys in rapid succession (e.g., “th”, “er”, or “on”) would cause the metal arms to
clash and jam. To reduce this problem, Sholes rearranged the keys to slow down
typing speeds by separating commonly used letter pairings.
Despite these mechanical constraints becoming obsolete with the advent of electronic
keyboards, QWERTY remains the dominant keyboard layout worldwide. The
persistence of QWERTY can be explained through the concept of technological lock-
in or path dependence. Once a technology becomes widely adopted, it is difficult to
replace—even if better alternatives exist—due to the vast ecosystem built around it,
including:
User familiarity: Most people learn to type using QWERTY in school or at work.
Changing the layout would require retraining, which takes time and effort.
Assignment 3
Unique code:
Due July 2025
,INF1520
Assignment 3
Due: July 2025
Critical Reflections on Human–Computer Interaction and Multimedia Integration
1. Introduction
Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) is a vital area of study that explores how people
interact with digital technologies, systems, and interfaces. It draws from multiple
disciplines including computer science, psychology, sociology, cognitive science,
design, and ergonomics, to ensure that systems are not only functional but also user-
friendly, efficient, accessible, and inclusive.
In an age where technology has become deeply woven into nearly every sphere of
life—education, healthcare, banking, communication, entertainment,
transportation, and governance—the quality of user interfaces significantly impacts
people's productivity, satisfaction, and even safety. Poor interface design can lead to
user frustration, reduced efficiency, and in critical sectors such as medicine or aviation,
even catastrophic failure.
One of the core principles of HCI is user-centered design (UCD), which places the
user’s needs, limitations, and context at the center of the design process. This means
that designers must understand who their users are, what they need to accomplish,
what their technological skills are, and how environmental or cultural factors may affect
their interaction with a system.
Another key concept is usability, which refers to how effectively, efficiently, and
satisfactorily a user can achieve a task using a particular system. Usability includes
ease of learning, ease of use, error frequency and recovery, satisfaction, and
memorability.
The rise of multimedia integration—combining text, sound, images, video, and
interactivity in digital platforms—has further emphasized the need for effective HCI.
, Multimedia elements must be seamlessly integrated in ways that support user goals
rather than distract or confuse. For example, multimedia learning environments in
education must align with cognitive load theory, ensuring that content is engaging
without overwhelming the user.
Importantly, HCI does not exist in a vacuum. Interface and system designs are shaped
by historical conventions, technological constraints, market forces, and social
norms. As such, this assignment not only explores HCI principles but also reflects
critically on how legacy design choices—such as the QWERTY keyboard layout—
continue to influence today’s digital interactions.
2. Keyboard Layout and Interface Design Mistakes
2.1 The QWERTY Keyboard Arrangement
The QWERTY keyboard layout, named after the first six letters on the top-left of the
keyboard, was originally developed in 1873 by Christopher Latham Sholes, the
inventor of the typewriter. The primary goal of the design was not typing efficiency but
rather to prevent mechanical jamming. In early typewriters, striking two frequently-
used keys in rapid succession (e.g., “th”, “er”, or “on”) would cause the metal arms to
clash and jam. To reduce this problem, Sholes rearranged the keys to slow down
typing speeds by separating commonly used letter pairings.
Despite these mechanical constraints becoming obsolete with the advent of electronic
keyboards, QWERTY remains the dominant keyboard layout worldwide. The
persistence of QWERTY can be explained through the concept of technological lock-
in or path dependence. Once a technology becomes widely adopted, it is difficult to
replace—even if better alternatives exist—due to the vast ecosystem built around it,
including:
User familiarity: Most people learn to type using QWERTY in school or at work.
Changing the layout would require retraining, which takes time and effort.
