PQ Flashcards
(18 cards)
Define Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
Answer: HCI is the study and practice of designing, implementing, and evaluating interactive computing systems for human use. It focuses on usability, accessibility, and user experience.
Explain the significance of usability engineering in HCI.
Answer: Usability engineering ensures that systems are user-friendly, efficient, and effective. It involves systematic methods such as user testing, heuristic evaluations, and iterative design to improve user experience.
What are the main paradigms of interaction in HCI?
Answer:
Command-line interfaces (CLI)
Graphical user interfaces (GUI)
Natural user interfaces (NUI)
Virtual/Augmented reality interfaces
Conversational interfaces (Voice-based AI)
Discuss the role of cognitive psychology in HCI.
Answer: Cognitive psychology helps in understanding how users perceive, process, and interact with technology. It informs interface design by addressing memory load, attention span, and error prevention.
Explain the differences between usability testing and heuristic evaluation.
Answer:
Usability testing involves real users interacting with a system to identify problems.
Heuristic evaluation relies on experts reviewing an interface based on usability principles.
What is Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) in HCI?
Answer: HTA is a systematic method for breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable subtasks to improve usability and system efficiency.
Explain how HCI integrates into the software development life cycle (SDLC
Answer: HCI principles are incorporated into SDLC through user research, prototyping, usability testing, iterative design, and post-deployment evaluation.
Analyze the usability of a commonly used mobile application (e.g., WhatsApp, Instagram). Identify three usability issues and propose solutions.
Answer:
Issue 1: Overloaded interface (Solution: Simplify navigation)
Issue 2: Small touch targets (Solution: Increase button size)
Issue 3: Lack of dark mode (Solution: Provide theme options)
Design a simple wireframe for a banking app login screen. Include elements that enhance user experience.
Answer: A wireframe should include a username field, password field, login button, fingerprint authentication option, and a “Forgot Password?” link.
Conduct a heuristic evaluation of a given website. Identify at least three violations of usability heuristics.
Answer:
Violation 1: Poor error visibility (Solution: Provide clear error messages)
Violation 2: Inconsistent navigation (Solution: Standardize menu structure)
Violation 3: Lack of feedback (Solution: Add loading indicators)
Explain the role of affordances and signifiers in UI design. Provide examples.
Answer: Affordances indicate possible actions (e.g., a button suggests clicking), while signifiers clarify how to interact (e.g., underlined text suggests a hyperlink).
Compare and contrast direct manipulation interfaces with command-based interfaces.
Answer:
Direct manipulation (e.g., drag-and-drop in GUIs) offers visual feedback and immediate results.
Command-based interfaces (e.g., CLI) require textual input but provide more flexibility for power users.
A company wants to improve its e-commerce website’s usability. Outline a five-step usability evaluation process.
Answer:
Define usability goals
Recruit participants
Conduct user testing
Analyze findings
Implement improvements
What are the five usability principles defined by Nielsen?
Answer:
Learnability
Efficiency
Memorability
Errors (low error rate)
Satisfaction
Differentiate between UI and UX design.
Answer: UI design focuses on visuals and aesthetics, while UX design emphasizes overall user experience, usability, and interaction flow.
How does Fitts’ Law apply to UI design?
Answer: Fitts’ Law states that the time to acquire a target is a function of its size and distance. UI designs should place frequently used elements within easy reach and ensure buttons are large enough for quick interaction.
Explain the concept of accessibility in HCI and list three ways to improve it
Answer: Accessibility ensures systems can be used by people with disabilities. Improvements include:
Providing alternative text for images
Ensuring keyboard navigation support
Using high-contrast color schemes
Describe three common interaction errors in user interfaces and their possible solutions.
Answer:
Slip errors (accidental clicks) → Solution: Undo functionality
Mistake errors (wrong input) → Solution: Confirmation dialogs
Mode errors (user confusion) → Solution: Clear visual cues for different modes
