INF1520
Assignment 3
Unique code:
Due July 2025
, INF1520
Assignment 3
Due 2025
Introduction
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field that critically informs the
design, evaluation, and implementation of digital interfaces. Its central goal is to
enhance usability, accessibility, and user satisfaction in an increasingly digital society.
As technology becomes embedded in everyday life, the importance of intuitive and
inclusive interface design grows exponentially.
This analysis explores core dimensions of HCI, including the historical underpinnings of
the QWERTY keyboard, common interface design mistakes, learnability principles,
usability testing, interface types, and the integration of multimedia in health services.
Drawing from scholarly literature, the discussion exposes the often-unquestioned
assumptions embedded in design choices and considers the long-term implications of
prevailing interface standards. The assignment is structured using logical headings and
subheadings, and it employs clear grammar and terminology while maintaining
analytical sophistication suitable for advanced academic discourse.
1. Keyboard Layout and Interface Design Mistakes
1.1 QWERTY Keyboard Arrangement
The QWERTY keyboard layout, developed by Christopher Latham Sholes in the 19th
century, was engineered to mitigate the mechanical jamming of early typewriters. By
spacing commonly paired letters (e.g., “th,” “he”) apart, the design prioritized
mechanical functionality over alphabetical logic (Noyes, 1983). Although this rationale
no longer applies in modern digital contexts, the QWERTY layout remains dominant due
to path dependence—a phenomenon where user familiarity and institutional inertia
Assignment 3
Unique code:
Due July 2025
, INF1520
Assignment 3
Due 2025
Introduction
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field that critically informs the
design, evaluation, and implementation of digital interfaces. Its central goal is to
enhance usability, accessibility, and user satisfaction in an increasingly digital society.
As technology becomes embedded in everyday life, the importance of intuitive and
inclusive interface design grows exponentially.
This analysis explores core dimensions of HCI, including the historical underpinnings of
the QWERTY keyboard, common interface design mistakes, learnability principles,
usability testing, interface types, and the integration of multimedia in health services.
Drawing from scholarly literature, the discussion exposes the often-unquestioned
assumptions embedded in design choices and considers the long-term implications of
prevailing interface standards. The assignment is structured using logical headings and
subheadings, and it employs clear grammar and terminology while maintaining
analytical sophistication suitable for advanced academic discourse.
1. Keyboard Layout and Interface Design Mistakes
1.1 QWERTY Keyboard Arrangement
The QWERTY keyboard layout, developed by Christopher Latham Sholes in the 19th
century, was engineered to mitigate the mechanical jamming of early typewriters. By
spacing commonly paired letters (e.g., “th,” “he”) apart, the design prioritized
mechanical functionality over alphabetical logic (Noyes, 1983). Although this rationale
no longer applies in modern digital contexts, the QWERTY layout remains dominant due
to path dependence—a phenomenon where user familiarity and institutional inertia
