Home  Back Topics CD Orders  INDEX 
HCI Requirements
HCI stands for Human Computer Interface. It is the way in which the user interacts with the computer.

The job of the HCI is to allow a user to perform a task on a computer.

It is important that the user understands what to do to complete a task, and finds it easy to operate the computer. Frustrated and annoyed users will probably not return!

 

When a Human Computer Interface is designed there are a number of factors that are considered:
  • the tasks the computer is to perform
  • the IT skills of the likely users
  • the age of the users (children need different ways of using the computer to older people)
  • the environment in which the computer will be used (office, home or public places)

It will also normally be possible for a user to set individual preferences when using the computer (such as colour, text size etc).