ABSTRACT

Usability testing in HCI involves observing

users interacting with a system to identify issues
and improve the design. It helps ensure the
system is intuitive, efficient, and meets the needs
of its users.

tiger
HCI

HUMAN
COMPUTER
INTERFACE
Question and answer
a) Differentiate between the following terms as used in HCI:

i) Low-fidelity and High-fidelity prototypes

• Low-fidelity prototype: A basic, simplified version of a design used in the early

stages of development, often made with paper or simple sketches. It focuses on
structure and functionality rather than appearance.
• High-fidelity prototype: A more detailed and interactive version of a design, closely
resembling the final product in terms of visuals and interactions, often created using
digital tools like Figma or Adobe XD.

ii) Gulf of execution and Gulf of evaluation

• Gulf of execution: The gap between the user's intention and the system's ability to
support those intentions through available actions. It reflects how easily a user can
translate their goals into system commands.
• Gulf of evaluation: The gap between the system's output and the user's ability to
understand it. It reflects how easily a user can interpret the system's feedback to
determine if their goals were met.

b) State three benefits of developing a good user interface:

1. Improved usability: Makes the system easier to learn and use, reducing the cognitive
load on users.
2. Enhanced user satisfaction: A good UI provides a positive experience, increasing
user engagement and retention.
3. Reduced errors and support costs: Clear design minimizes user errors and the need
for extensive training or technical support.

c) Describe the function of the three main components of the Model Human
Processor (MHP):

1. Perceptual Processor:
o Responsible for receiving sensory inputs (like visual and auditory signals)
from the environment.
o Processes information from the eyes and ears and sends it to the cognitive
processor.
2. Cognitive Processor:
o Handles decision-making, memory retrieval, and reasoning.
o Processes information received from the perceptual processor and decides on
actions.
o Also interacts with long-term memory and working memory.
3. Motor Processor:
o Executes physical actions and movements based on decisions made by the
cognitive processor.
o Controls body parts such as arms, wrists, and fingers for tasks like typing or
clicking.
ii) Explain the importance of the Model Human Processor:

• Understanding Human Performance: Helps in predicting how users will interact

with systems based on human cognitive limitations.
• Design Optimization: Aids in creating user interfaces that align with human
capabilities, improving usability.
• Error Reduction: Assists in minimizing cognitive overload and user errors by
modeling how users process information.

d) Outline five of Shneiderman’s Golden Rules:

1. Strive for consistency: Consistent design elements and behaviors across the system
help users predict outcomes.
2. Enable frequent users to use shortcuts: Allow expert users to perform tasks faster
using keyboard shortcuts and commands.
3. Offer informative feedback: Provide clear and timely feedback for every user action
to maintain clarity.
4. Design dialogs to yield closure: Ensure clear beginnings, middles, and ends in user
tasks, such as confirmation messages.
5. Prevent errors: Design systems to minimize the chances of user errors and provide
guidance for error recovery.

e) Explain three components of usability engineering with examples:

1. Effectiveness:
o Refers to how well a system allows users to achieve their goals accurately and
completely.
o Example: A search engine returning relevant results for a query effectively.
2. Efficiency:
o Describes how quickly users can perform tasks using the system.
o Example: A well-organized e-commerce website where users can quickly find
and purchase items.
3. Satisfaction:
o The user's subjective experience and comfort while interacting with the
system.
o Example: A social media app with a visually appealing design and intuitive
navigation.

f) Highlight three interaction styles in which humans dialogue with

computers:

1. Command Line Interface (CLI):

o Users input text commands to interact with the system.
 o Example: Using terminal commands in Linux.
2. Graphical User Interface (GUI):
o Users interact with graphical elements like buttons and icons.
o Example: Windows operating system desktop.
3. Natural Language Interaction:
o Users interact using conversational language.
o Example: Virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa.

g) Explain the participatory design approach in HCI:

• Definition:
Participatory design involves end-users in the design and development process of a
system to ensure it meets their needs.
• Key Principles:
o Users are actively involved from the beginning of the design process.
o Feedback loops and iterative design improve the final product.
• Example:
Designing a healthcare app where doctors and nurses contribute to interface decisions
and test prototypes.
• Benefits:
o Results in more user-centered designs.
o Reduces the risk of design failure by addressing user needs early.

a) Direct manipulation interaction style describes systems that have certain

features. State two core features. [2 Marks]

1. Continuous Representation of Objects: Objects and actions of interest are always

visible on the screen, such as icons representing files on a desktop.
2. Immediate Feedback and Reversibility: Actions provide instant feedback, and users
can undo operations, like dragging a file to the trash and retrieving it back.

b) Explain three factors affecting user interface usability. [3 Marks]

1. Learnability: How easily a new user can understand and start using the system.
2. Consistency: Uniform design elements and behaviors across the interface help users
predict outcomes.
3. Error Prevention and Recovery: The system should minimize errors and help users
recover when they occur, such as providing error messages with guidance.
c) There are many formalism techniques that we can use to signify dialogs.
With the aid of examples, explain three of these formalism techniques. [6
Marks]

1. State Transition Networks (STN):

o Represents dialogs as states and transitions between them.
o Example: ATM interface where states include "Card Inserted," "Enter PIN,"
and "Withdraw Cash."
2. Petri Nets:
o Uses places, transitions, and tokens to model parallel and concurrent
interactions.
o Example: A collaborative document editing system where multiple users can
edit simultaneously.
3. Flowcharts:
o A graphical representation of steps and decisions in a process.
o Example: Online shopping checkout process flowchart with steps like "Add to
Cart," "Enter Shipping Details," and "Complete Payment."

d) Describe three populations of users with special needs. For each population,
suggest three ways current interfaces could be improved to better serve them.
[9 Marks]

1. Visually Impaired Users:

o Improvements:
▪ Screen readers and text-to-speech options.
▪ High-contrast mode for better visibility.
▪ Adjustable text size for readability.
2. Motor Impaired Users:
o Improvements:
▪ Voice-controlled interfaces.
▪ Larger clickable areas and buttons.
▪ Keyboard shortcuts for reduced mouse dependence.
3. Hearing Impaired Users:
o Improvements:
▪ Subtitles and closed captions for multimedia.
▪ Visual alerts for system notifications.
▪ Sign language avatars for essential instructions.

a) Jakob Nielsen describes top quality as HOMERUN. Discuss the meaning. [7

Marks]

Jakob Nielsen uses the acronym HOMERUN to define the characteristics of a top-quality
website or user interface. It stands for:
 1. High usability: The system is intuitive, efficient, and easy to use.
2. Outstanding design: Visual design is appealing and aligns with user expectations.
3. Memorable experience: The interface provides a unique and engaging experience
that leaves a lasting impression.
4. Emotional impact: It creates positive emotions in users, such as trust, joy, or
satisfaction.
5. Relevant content: The information provided is valuable, accurate, and relevant to the
user’s needs.
6. Unobtrusive advertising: If ads are present, they are minimal and do not disrupt the
user experience.
7. Navigation and structure: The interface is logically organized, making it easy to
find information or complete tasks.

b) Explain the stages of interaction in Donald Norman’s model. [7 Marks]

Donald Norman’s model of interaction divides the process of human interaction with systems
into seven stages:

1. Forming the goal:

o The user identifies what they want to achieve.
o Example: A user decides to send an email.
2. Forming the intention:
o The user determines the steps needed to achieve the goal.
o Example: The user decides to open an email app.
3. Specifying the action sequence:
o The user plans the specific actions to perform the task.
o Example: The user plans to click "Compose" and type a message.
4. Executing the action:
o The user performs the planned actions.
o Example: Clicking "Compose," typing the message, and hitting "Send."
5. Perceiving the system state:
o The user observes the system’s response to their actions.
o Example: The "Message Sent" notification appears.
6. Interpreting the system state:
o The user evaluates the feedback provided by the system.
o Example: The user confirms the email has been successfully sent.
7. Evaluating the outcome:
o The user compares the outcome to their original goal.
o Example: The user confirms that their email communication was successful.

c) Describe the main characteristics of the following user interfaces: [6 Marks]

(i) Command Line Interface (CLI):

• A text-based interface where users interact with the system by typing commands.
• Characteristics:
o Requires knowledge of commands and syntax.
 o Efficient for advanced users.
o Minimal resource usage (low system requirements).

(ii) Menu:

• An interface where users select options from a predefined list.

• Characteristics:
o User-friendly for beginners.
o Requires minimal typing and memory recall.
o Examples include dropdown menus or navigation bars in websites.

(iii) Natural Language Interface (NLI):

• Allows users to interact with the system using conversational language.

• Characteristics:
o Intuitive and requires minimal learning.
o Supports spoken or written language inputs.
o Example: Virtual assistants like Siri or chatbots.

(a) Outline four disadvantages of low-fidelity prototyping. [4 Marks]

1. Limited Functionality: Low-fidelity prototypes often focus only on basic layout and
structure without interactive features.
2. Inaccurate Representation: They may not fully represent the final product, leading
to misleading feedback.
3. Difficult to Test Complex Interactions: Not suitable for testing dynamic features or
user interactions in detail.
4. User Misinterpretation: Users may struggle to understand the concept due to the
lack of polish and realism.

(b) XYZ University accounts department is designing a database entry screen.

The screen will display a form consisting of a large number of text boxes. The
information to be entered will be in several categories, including personal
details, account details, and transaction information.

Discuss ways in which the Gestalt Laws of Perceptual Organization could be applied to
enhance the usability of this screen. [6 Marks]

1. Law of Proximity: Group related fields like personal details, account details, and
transaction information close together to help users perceive them as connected
sections.
2. Law of Similarity: Use consistent fonts, colors, and shapes for similar data types to
make the form easier to scan.
 3. Law of Closure: Ensure each section is visually framed so users can perceive the
fields as a complete group.
4. Law of Continuity: Align text boxes and labels along a common vertical or
horizontal line to create a smooth visual flow.
5. Law of Figure-Ground: Use contrasting colors for the form background and text to
make the information stand out clearly.
6. Law of Common Region: Group categories using colored sections or borders to
separate different types of information visually.

(c) Evaluation is concerned with gathering data about the usability of a design
or product by a specified group of users for a particular activity within a
specified environment or work context.

(i) State four reasons for carrying out evaluation. [4 Marks]

1. Identify Usability Problems: To detect issues that hinder user interaction.

2. Improve Design Quality: To refine and enhance the product based on user feedback.
3. Ensure User Satisfaction: To verify that the product meets user needs and
expectations.
4. Validate Design Decisions: To confirm whether design choices align with user
behavior and goals.

(ii) Explain three methods that can be used for evaluation. [6 Marks]

1. Heuristic Evaluation: Experts assess the interface against established usability

principles (heuristics).
o Example: Evaluating if a website follows Jakob Nielsen's heuristics like
consistency and error prevention.
2. User Testing (Empirical Testing): Involves real users performing tasks while
observers note their interactions and challenges.
o Example: Asking users to complete a registration form and recording their
experiences.
3. Surveys and Questionnaires: Collecting feedback from a large group of users
through structured questions.
o Example: Using Likert scale surveys to measure user satisfaction with a
mobile app.