Characteristics of users, such as experience, physical abilities, environment, and task, should be considered when designing interfaces. Appropriate design includes choosing hardware, layout, and help features to make the interface easy to use, safe, consistent, and user-friendly. Common types of interfaces include command line, menus, graphical user interfaces, forms, and natural language, with each best suited to different users and tasks.

1. INFO 2Unit 2.3 – People and ICT Systems

2. Specification

3. Characteristics of usersHow users interact with ICT SystemsAppropriate interface design

4. Help and SupportTypes of user interfacesWorking in ICTBreak it down

5. What characteristics of users should be considered when designing an ICT System or Interface?Characteristics of usersQuestions to consolidate

6. Users of computer systems will varyThe way the user interacts with the system will be affected by the following factors:ExperiencePhysical CharacteristicsEnvironment of useTask to be undertakenAgeCharacteristics of users

7. Easily frustratedZoom in featuresHelp featuresWant to work fastVoice recognitionfamiliarOutput audioExperiencedInexperiencedClarityPoor eyesightOutput BrailleShort cutsLarge iconsExperiencePhysicalTouch screenFine motor skillsSimple, BIG, pictures, iconsCharacteristics of usersPointing deviceChildrenVoice recognitionAgeAdultsEnvironment of useStructured, text, ElderlySlow, guidanceIndustrialTask to be under takentravellingGamingChemical Plant Gloves – big keys

8. Dirt – no keyboardsLoud/QuietGPS – touch screen, audio output, simple visual outputJoystick / headsetLoud – Visual outputQuiet - headphonesData entryrestaurantKeyboard/ScannerConcept keyboardhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10701953

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12. Appropriate interface designMost ICT Systems involve human interaction at some pointHow users interact with ICT Systems

13. Appropriate interface designHCI – Human Computer InterfaceThe point of interaction between people and computer systemsCreating an appropriate HCI requires:Choice of appropriate hardware devices (input and output)Designing the ‘look and feel’ of the software (layout and design)How users interact with ICT Systems

14. Appropriate interface designAn HCI Should:Be easy to useAppropriate for the usersSafeRobustUser Friendly (Help features and shortcuts)Be consistent (Look and Feel)How users interact with ICT Systems

15. Explain two factors that you think should be considered when designing a web interface for use by customers that would support good customer management(4 Marks)Consider:Users of a website might not have visited before, therefore customers might have varied skill levels.Many online customers worry about the use of e-commerce. The HCI needs to address these worries.Exam Question

16. Explain two factors that you think should be considered when designing a web interface for use by customers that would support good customer management(4 Marks)Customers will have different levels of ICT skills. (1) A simple menu system would give specific options to enable those with little skill to use the system. Appropriate online help should be provided. (1) Many customers are afraid of safety when using online systems for ordering and paying for goods. (1) The HCI needs to offer assurance that the site is secure. (1)Exam Question - Answer

17. What support options are available in most generic applications?Many software applications offer the following support features:On screen help – avoid jargon, provide FAQ and searchWizards – prompts for novice usersTipsBuilt in demonstrationsOnline help facilitiesHelp/Support Options

18. What support options are offered by system providers?Many providers offer the following support options:Telephone Help DeskEmail supportUser GuidesOnline support (patches, updates)Help/Support Options

19. What other support options are available for industry standard packages?Mass used applications tend to have the following available:Bulletin boardsUser GroupsBooksHelp/Support Options

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21. Several standard categories of user interface:Command line interfaceMenu driven interfaceGraphical user interface (GUI)On-Screen FormsNatural Language interfaceTypes of HCI

22. User types in commands for the computer.Examples: MS-DOS, Unix, Linux, Command Prompt (see next slide)Command Line Interface (CLI)

23. Back in the heyday of text-based operating systems like Unix and DOS, the command prompt was the operating system, and not knowing how to use it meant that you could not really use your system without someone experienced in computing holding your hand. This was the era of computing clubs, when getting to grips with your computer required some serious devotion and learning.When the most successful graphical operating systems, the various Apple Mac and Windows incarnations came along, they triggered a massive increase in the popularity of computers by simplifying the whole process of using them. No longer did users have to memorize reams of commands in order to simply configure and navigate around their computers.On the other hand, icon based graphic interfaces tend to reduce the flexibility of the underlying operating systems considerably, especially since they are designed to be accessible to the novice user. The various Windows operating systems are instantly familiar to just about any citizen of a developed country between the ages of 10 and 35, not to mention anyone who has worked in an office within the last 10 years, but how many people know how to properly configure and customize Windows XP? Judging by the proliferation of computer service ads in every city, not many.The command prompt, a purely text-driven interface, is still present at the core of Windows XP, and it contains many options that are not otherwise accessible without third-party software, but which most 'experts' could not live without. The mighty PING command being one simple example.Command Prompthttp://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1723

24. Back in the heyday of text-based operating systems like Unix and DOS, the command prompt was the operating system, and not knowing how to use it meant that you could not really use your system without someone experienced in computing holding your hand. This was the era of computing clubs, when getting to grips with your computer required some serious devotion and learning.When the most successful graphical operating systems, the various Apple Mac and Windows incarnations came along, they triggered a massive increase in the popularity of computers by simplifying the whole process of using them. No longer did users have to memorize reams of commands in order to simply configure and navigate around their computers.On the other hand, icon based graphic interfaces tend to reduce the flexibility of the underlying operating systems considerably, especially since they are designed to be accessible to the novice user. The various Windows operating systems are instantly familiar to just about any citizen of a developed country between the ages of 10 and 35, not to mention anyone who has worked in an office within the last 10 years, but how many people know how to properly configure and customize Windows XP? Judging by the proliferation of computer service ads in every city, not many.The command prompt, a purely text-driven interface, is still present at the core of Windows XP, and it contains many options that are not otherwise accessible without third-party software, but which most 'experts' could not live without. The mighty PING command being one simple example.Command Prompthttp://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1723

25. Command Line Interface exampleSTART - CMD

26. Command Line Interface

27. Useful in situations where the user needs to be restricted to a limited choiceMenu Driven Interface

28. To considerBalance between options on a screen at one time and number of levels of sub-menus requiredShould have a consistent layoutShould use the same prompt for the same operation (e.g. back button)Prompt should be in the same position on the screenMenu Driven Interface

29. Menu Driven Interface

30. Use 4 basic features (WIMP)WindowsIconsMenusPointersOften called a WIMP environmentGraphical User Interface (GUI)

31. Graphical User Interface (GUI)

32. Widely used to enter data into a computer systemGood idea for an on-screen form to mimic the style of a paper formInclude check boxes, menus or listsOn-Screen Forms

33. On-Screen Forms

34. Microsoft's ViewCraig Mundie is Microsoft's big thinker, charting the path of its future research. His current obsession is what he calls natural user interfaces, new ways of interacting with computers, of which Kinect is one example.There is, he says, a shift about to happen from the old graphical user interface to a trend where "the computer is more like us - it sees, it listens, it speaks, it understands, it even seeks to do things on our behalf."http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-1257004527th Feb 2011Natural Language Interface

35. Getting thereSearch EnginesAsk.com uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to interpret questions written in natural languageNLP tries to understand the context of a questionHelp searchMS Office tries to interpret questions written in natural languageGames ConsolesNatural movement turns a players body into a games controllerNatural Language Interfacehttp://groups.csail.mit.edu/sls/sls

36. Command Driven ‘Natural Language Interfaces’ exist Speech SynthesisSubset of natural languageE.g. My car to control music selection, phone calls etc.Pure Natural-Language Interfaces may still be stuff of the future. WHY?Natural Language Interface

37. Spoken Language has ambiguities i.e. different meanings, same pronunciation, different spellingLeadI lead the race for a long timeThe dog required a leadReadI read a book yesterdayDo you like to read?Witch/WhichWhich hat was it?The Witch wore a big black hatThere/Their/They’reThere was nowhere to goTheir football was taken awayThey’re going to live in EnglandContext and tone need to be taken into accountDifficulties with developing a Pure Natural Language Interface

38. Structure of sentences can also be ambiguous.“My car needs oiling badly”Would you really want someone to oil your car badly?Difficulties with developing a Pure Natural Language Interface

39. Natural Language Interface

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46. Rearrange the letters below to figure out what we are learning about nextIGIOINTKRNWCWORKING IN ICTStarter

47. List as many personal qualities as you can required for a professional working in ICTE.g. Good oral communication skillsStarter

48. Working In ICT

49. Working In ICTAn ICT professional is a person who works in the development, maintenance or support of ICT Systems.You have 3 minutes in your groups to write down as many jobs you can think of associated with IT/ICTYou now have 15 minutes to visit Jobsite.co.ukMonster.co.ukTotaljobs.comand find as many IT/ICT jobs as possible (Think about your search criteria IT, ICT, games etc.)

50. IT AnalystIT SupportWeb DeveloperChief Information Officer (CIO) / Chief Technology Officer (CTO)IT Audit ManagerSocial Games DeveloperProgrammer (Java/C++)Information Strategy ArchitectIT TrainerIT EngineerJobs in IT/ICT

51. Personal Qualities requiredTeam WorkerReliableGood ListenerGood verbal communication (technical/non technical)OrganisedGood problem solverGood written skillsIntegrity (trustworthy, has values and principles)122, 45768

52. Personal Qualities required

53. Personal Qualities required________________________________________________________

54. Personal Qualities requiredWork well under pressureGood oral and written communication skillsAttention to detailWork flexible hours2134

55. Personal Qualities required______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

56. Personal Qualities requiredIntegrityGood Problem SolverGood ListenerTeam WorkerAttention to detailOrganisedWork under pressureGood Oral and writing skillsAttention to detail123456, 7889

57. Personal Qualities required____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

58. Personal Qualities required1Good listenerOrganisedGood Problem SolverTeam WorkerMulti-taskGood oral skillsGood written skillsAttention to detailInterpersonalWork under pressure2345678910

59. Lots of Jobs in IT require you to work as part of a teamImagine this scenarioI require a team of 5 students to design and build a website for the school. It must be built to a professional standard. It must be built in less than 3 months.Who would you choose to be part of your team?Why have you chosen them?Characteristics of an effective ICT team

60. Members are usually allocated a specific role according to their strengthsHowever, it is important that each member works as part of the teamIf a member is absent or leaves the group other team members must be aware of their responsibilities and be flexible and adaptiveMost teams have a team leaderAll members need good communication skillsCharacteristics of an effective ICT team

61. Characteristics of an effective ICT Team

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