2. Introduction to Understanding the
User
• HCI focuses on designing systems that enhance user
experience.
• Understanding users involves analyzing their needs,
goals, and behaviors.
• Key factors: user demographics, context of use, and
user experience.
• Importance of usability, accessibility, and user-
centered design.
3. Understanding User Characteristics
• Users vary in experience, age, skills, and cognitive
abilities.
• Considerations: Physical abilities, cognitive load,
attention span.
• Accessibility: Designing for diverse users, including
those with disabilities.
• Cultural differences and their impact on interface
design.
4. User Research Methods
• Essential for gathering insights into user behavior
and needs.
• Methods include: Observations, interviews, surveys,
usability testing.
• Helps in iterative design and validation of UI/UX
elements.
• Quantitative vs. Qualitative research in HCI.
5. User Research Techniques
• Interviews & Surveys – Direct feedback from users.
• Usability Testing – Observing users interacting with a
prototype/system.
• Heuristic Evaluation – Expert review based on
usability principles.
• A/B Testing – Comparing two versions of a design to
measure effectiveness.
• Eye Tracking – Analyzing visual attention and gaze
patterns.
6. Cognitive Psychology and User
Interaction
• Cognitive psychology studies how users perceive,
think, and remember.
• Important aspects: Attention, perception, memory,
problem-solving.
• HCI applies cognitive models to design user-friendly
interfaces.
• Reducing cognitive load enhances usability and
efficiency.
7. Key Cognitive Principles in HCI
• Mental Models – Users form expectations based on
past experiences.
• Cognitive Load – The amount of mental effort
required to use a system.
• Fitts' Law – Predicts the time required to reach a
target on a screen.
• Hick’s Law – More choices lead to slower decision-
making.
• Gestalt Principles – How humans perceive patterns
and structures.
