This document discusses characteristics of ICT users and how they interact with systems. It outlines 5 main user characteristics: physical, experience, task, age, and environment. It then examines different types of interfaces like command line, menus, graphical and natural language. The document also discusses how help and training can be provided to users. Finally, it briefly outlines some common ICT jobs and skills needed to work in the field, as well as what makes an effective ICT team.

1. Section 3
People and ICT Systems

2. Objectives
By the end of today you will know about:
•The characteristics of ICT users
•How users interact with ICT systems

3. Characteristics of ICT users
There are five main characteristics to be aware of
when looking at the interaction between users and
ICT systems.
•Physical characteristics
•Experience
•Task to be undertaken
•Age
•Environment

4. Physical characteristics
Disabilities – visual impairment
colour blindness
lack of mobility in arms, legs, hands etc
paralysis
Experience
•How much do you know about the system?
•Have you experienced similar systems?
•What training is needed?
•What help is included in the system?
All users have differing levels of ICT experience. Systems need
to take this into account

5. Task to be undertaken
What the task involves will determine how the system will operate
Do you need to enter a lot of text? Use OMR or voice input systems
Stock control? Use barcodes or RFID
Website? Ease of navigation
Restaurant? Concept keyboard
Although 3 of the 4 answers are hardware you will also need to consider
the way in which the user interacts with the hardware.

6. Age
In general:
•Younger users have better reaction times, can navigate interfaces
easier and find systems more intuitive.
•Older users have slower reaction speeds, might be easily confused by
an interface but are usually more patient.
ICT systems need to be designed for the most likely users but need to
accommodate all potential users

7. Environment
Where is the systems to be used?
•At home?
•On the move?
•At work?
The location and characteristics of the location will probably influence the
input and output devices used in the system.
A noisy factory environment will probably require vivid, colour as a prompt.
A quiet office won’t want the noise, beeps and chimes of an OS and an
application running on top of it.
A system running on a mobile device such as a smartphone needs to be
easily read on a small screen and then navigated in some way.

8. How users interact with ICT systems
Key point to learn:
Interface is not the same as Interaction. Beware!
You will cover the following:
•Types of interface – command line, menu driven, graphical user, natural language
•How help can be provided
•Benefits & drawbacks of various interface types

9. Command Line Interface (CLI)
In this interface you really need to know what you are doing.
This is old school but is still used as it has advantages.
•You must know the commands
•You need to know the syntax that the commands use
•You need to know where you are on the system and what the effect of
running the command will be.
The interface is designed for expert users, knowledgeable people; there are
no frills and fancy bits but it is very quick IF you know what to do.

10. Menu driven interface
A menu driven interface relies on you making a choice from a list of options.
It is quick and easy to use.
Options should be self explanatory.
Doesn’t need any special skills or a pointer to operate
The developer can stop you having access to things that you don’t need

11. Graphical user interface (GUI)
The most common interface. You have been brought up with this so
you know it best. It is user friendly as it is intuitive.
Made up of
•Windows
•Icons
•Menus
•Pointers
•Also desktop, drag & drop and toolbars appear in this interface
It is called a WIMP interface because of these components.
This is Windows in its many forms and all modern applications

12. Natural language interface
This interface allows you to issue commands to an ICT system in the same
way we would give them to another person.
This does not mean that you talk to the
computer in your native language as
that will need speech recognition s/w
The ICT system becomes a tool and
transparent to the user but still
needs suitable input and output
devices to support it.

13. Help
Help can be provided to a user of an ICT system in many ways.
•A quick start guide – a few easy steps to get started
•A paper manual – essential reading but few ever do
•Built in help – “Press F1 for help”
•Wizards – designed to automate tasks until you are confident
•Tooltips – hover over a tool and a popup tells you what it does
•Online help – via the company website
•Telephone support lines (help desk) – often premium rate to make money
•Usergroups – people experienced in that application
•Friends & family – ask them or watch them
•Books/guides – includes “Idiots guide to...” or “The Dummies guide to...”

14. Training
Not only do you need help when using an ICT system you will also need training.
•Training videos provided via CD/DVD – often supplied with the application
•Online tutorials to show off the system – could be part of help system
•Reading the manual (no-one ever does until they are desperate)
•Classroom based instruction – at work, at home, weekends etc
•1:1 tuition by an expert – v. good but v. expensive

15. Working in ICT
•What jobs are available in ICT
•What skills and qualities does an ICT professional require
•What makes an effective ICT team

16. Jobs in ICT
Q - What jobs are available to people with good ICT skills?
A - Realistically anything dependant on your skills, experience and qualifications.
Types of job:
Traditional jobs
•Support – help desk, training
•Analysis – work out what end users want not what you want to supply
•Development – create the right solution for the client
•Network development – specifying networks for a business, possibly globally
•Database administrator – ensure safety of company data and smooth running of systems
New jobs
•Web development – its name says it all
•Animation – in demand for web and films. Great for physicists and mathematicians
•App development – small scale development for Apple and Android products

17. Q - Do I need IT qualifications to work in ICT?
A - No! But it depends on the nature of the position.
If in doubt stick to Mathematics, Physics or related areas.
What could I earn?
Approx starting salaries
A level - £10 - 12 000
Degree - £18 - 22 000
(Average graduate starting salaries depend on where you went and what you
studied – this of course depends on your A level grades!)
Five years in you could be earning £35 - 40 000 if you have the correct skills.
For the big money head to the City with a degree in Maths

18. Core skills required
Good written communication skills kon yow spel krecktluy?
Duz wot U rite m8ke sens?
No? Well do something about it!
Good oral communication skills Can you listen to a person?
Can you ask the right questions?
Problem solving skills Are you a logical thinker?
Can you work out what to do next?
Patience Stick with the problem and the person
Don’t lose it with the client/user
Flexibility be prepared to work the hours when needed
ICT is around 24/7. You might need to be as well
Teamworking Few jobs are individual. You need to share and support

19. What makes an effective ICT team?
Teams bring a range of skills and experiences to bear on a problem.
What might take 1 person 5 years to complete might take only 6 months with a
small team.
The idea is synergy.
Advantages Disadvantages
Speed Teams are hard to manage
Idea bouncing Some people like working alone
Motivation If a part of the project is dependant on a
Continuity if a team member member who is absent or who works
leaves slowly then progress can be held up.
A better overall product Needs co-ordination meetings