Human Information Processing Correlates of Reading Hypertext    

There are a number of systematic relationships between basic measures of cognitive processing and measures of reading performance. The correlational study reported here demonstrates that these same relationships can be observed in the reading of hypertext. In addition, correlations among spatial processing abilities and performance with hypertext support the idea that spatial and relational processing play important roles in reading and using hypertext.

Wegner, Michael J. and David G. Payne. Technical Communication Online (1996). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Hypertext>Cognitive Psychology

The Human Interface

The phrase 'human error' is taken to mean 'operator error', but more often than not the disaster is inherent in the design or installation of the human interface. Bad interfaces are slow or error prone to use. Bad interfaces cost money and cost lives.

Dix, Alan. uiGarden (2005). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Usability>User Centered Design

Human Interface Design Principles

This section provides a theoretical base for the wealth of practical information on implementing the Aqua interface elements presented in the rest of this book. You’ll undoubtedly find that you can’t design in accordance with all of the principles all the time. In those situations, you’ll have to make decisions based on which principle or set of principles is most important in the context of the task you’re solving. User testing is often an excellent way to decide between conflicting principles in a particular context.

Apple Inc. (2003). Design>Human Computer Interaction>User Interface

Human-Computer Interaction and Your Site

Ever wondered what makes some websites easier to use than others, or why some people seem to master new navigation systems quickly while others struggle to learn? Do you know why users get lost in electronic space or find it difficult to communicate with others through the medium of technology? These questions are just some of the driving forces behind research in the developing field of Human Computer Interaction.

Danino, Nicky. SitePoint (2002). Design>Web Design>Human Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction Resource Network

Human-Computer Interaction Resource Network, or HCIRN for short, was founded in 1997 by Thomas Wolfmaier. Our mission is to advance the practice of human-computer interaction (HCI) by providing HCI professionals with relevant, accurate and timely information on HCI theories, methods, practices and resources. Our scope is to represent the collective knowledge of HCI in a cross-linked knowledge-database. HCI professionals include HCI practitioners, researchers and educators, usability specialist, user interface designers, developers, technical communicators, trainers, and anybody else concerned with creating beneficial computer-supported activities.

HCIRN. Organizations>Human Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction Webliography

An international directory of listings for websites in HCI.

HCIbib.org. Resources>Human Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction: Guidelines for Web Animation

Human-computer interaction in the large is an interdisciplinary area which attracts researchers, educators, and practioners from many differenf fields. Human-computer interaction studies a human and a machine in communication, it draws from supporting knowledge on both the machine and the human side. This paper is related to the human side of human-computer interaction and focuses on animations.

Galyani, Golnessa Moghaddam and Mostafa Moballeghi. uiGarden (2006). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>User Experience>Flash

Human-Computer Interaction: The Role of the Technical Communicator  

Throughout the history of the computer, human-computer interaction has taken many forms; from gears and levers to electronic desktops and virtual reality. Development of the computer has been driven by advances in technology making the computer smaller, cheaper, more powerful, but not necessarily easier to use. Today, the computer is ready for an evolutionary change from a number cruncher to a true communications medium. Sound, voice, and video are the future of the computer and technical communicators will become important in making this technology easier and more practical to use.

Calkins, Andrew J. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>TC

Human-Computer Interface at Google

Why does a web site that rarely changes need HCI people? Learn about the experiences of a new employee, Josh Mittleman, which he shared with the UsabilityNJ meeting in October.

Hoffer, Eric. Usability Interface (2007). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Usability

I'm Graduating, Now What? A Comparison of Work in Academics, Consulting, Government, Industrial Research, and Industrial Development  

A panel to familiarize students and faculty with what Human Factors professionals do in a variety of settings including academics and consulting.

Shapiro, Ronald G., Barry Beith, Joseph H. Goldberg, Joe Hale and John F. 'Jeff' Kelley. HFES (1994). Careers>Human Computer Interaction

IFIP Technical Committee on Human-Computer Interaction

IFIP Technical Comittee No 13 is focused on encouraging the development towards a science and technology of human-computer interaction.

IFIP. Organizations>Human Computer Interaction

Incorporating Human-Computer Interface (HCI) Technology Into the Technical Writer’s Role  

At last year’s STC corlference in Seattle, Dr. Donald Norman spoke about the technical writing community becoming an integral part qf the design/development team. The HCI certificate program qfered through Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute @PI,) provides information and teaches skills that enable the technical communicator to become a valuable part of that team. This paper discusses my experience incorporating what I learned in the HCI class on a work project.

Oakley, Joanne. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Education>Human Computer Interaction>Technical Writing

An Indian UX, HCI, UCD, Usability Blog

A blog on user experience, HCI, and usability in India.

Pillai, Muthu. Muthu Pillai (2004). Resources>Human Computer Interaction>Usability>Blogs

The Influence of Semantics and Syntax on What Readers Remember    

The objectives of the study presented here are to help writers and editors better allocate their efforts, increase the discipline’s knowledge about reader performance with technical documents, and examine many text variables in one study. For this study, participants read and recalled one of two technical texts. Results reveal that readers are more likely to recall more important versus less important information. Additionally, readers are more likely to recall information in clauses, in independent clauses, and in the first paragraphs of documents. The implication of these results for writers and editors is discussed.

Isakson, Carol S. and Jan H. Spyridakis. Technical Communication Online (1999). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Information Design

Information Retrieval of Imperfectly Recognized Handwriting

A user test of handwritten input on a pen machine achieved a 1.6% recognition error rate at the character level, corresponding to 8.8% errors on the word level. Input speed was 10 words per minute. In spite of the recognition errors, information retrieval of the handwritten notes was almost as good as retrieval of perfect text.

Nielsen, Jakob, Victoria L. Phillips and Susan T. Dumais. Alertbox (1993). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>User Interface

The Internet and HCI in Australasia

In this article we explore these issues further to find out how the Internet is used by Australasian HCI professionals and how they see themselves using the Internet in the future.

Wood, Dean and Susan Wolfe. SIGCHI Bulletin (1997). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Regional>Australia

Jeffrey Veen's Blog

The personal weblog of Jeffrey Veen, a founding partner of Adaptive Path, a user experience consultancy focusing on the impact of design on business.

Veen, Jeffrey. Veen.com (2005). Resources>Human Computer Interaction>Usability>Blogs

Journal of Computer Mediated Communication

A journal which publishes research into CMC.

JCMC. Journals>Human Computer Interaction>Communication>Collaboration

Journal of HCI Vistas

This website is meant to provide insights into various multi-disciplinary aspects of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). It looks at this subject particularly from Indian perspective. HCI Vistas publishes at least two original articles every month. It offers latest research papers as downloads. It also presents Comptoons and survey reports. The website is meant to provoke new thinking in the HCI domain.

Katre, Dinesh S. Journal of HCI Vistas (2005). Resources>Human Computer Interaction>Usability>User Experience

Just How Far Beyond HCI is Interaction Design?

A recent book captures a larger movement within the academic field of human-computer interaction away from its traditions of behavioral science and engineering towards 'interaction design.' But re-labeling isn't enough, it also requires a shift in philosophical foundations as well as professional practice, and the language of HCI is not the best place to look for inspiration.

Lowgren, Jonas. Boxes and Arrows (2002). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Interaction Design

A Layered Interaction Analysis of Direct Manipulation

The concept of direct manipulation is usually viewed as a single characteristic of a class of interaction styles. Here, direct manipulation is analyzed according to a detailed layered interaction model, showing that it has quite different effects on the dialogue on the different levels. In particular, the "no errors" claim may be true at the syntax level but not at several of the levels above or below that level. Furthermore, a unified framework is presented for conceptualizing Direct Manipulation, What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG), Transparency, Immediate Command Specification, Arcticulatory Directness, and Computational Appliances according to a layered interaction view.

Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (1992). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>User Interface

Learning From Photoshop's "Variations" Tool

Adobe has been using one of the most effective contemporary goal-oriented interactive mechanisms for years, and a lot of product designers should have been paying attention. It is, of course, the 'Variations' tool.

Baker, Adam. Merges.net (2001). Articles>User Interface>Human Computer Interaction

Learning How to Use a Cellular Phone: Comparison Between German and Chinese Users    

The objective of this study was to investigate whether and how 'cultural standards' influence the use of typical daily products, e.g. a cellular phone. The goal was to provide insight for technical communicators who design information products for Chinese or German users. Hypotheses about differences in learning and information gathering strategies were derived from Chinese and German cultural standards. Methods used were focus groups, usability tests and a questionnaire. In focus groups, the question was raised about how cellular phone users had learned to use the phone. Four focus groups were held in each country (number of participants: China: n=26, Germany: n=24). A questionnaire was designed to provide additional information. During usability tests, the actual information searching behavior was recorded. Results indicate that the following cultural differences exist: The main source of information for Chinese is the sales clerk, whereas for Germans it is the conventional user manual.

Honold, Pia. Technical Communication Online (1999). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Usability>International

Local Chapters of the ACM SIGCHI

ACM SIGCHI brings together people working on the design, evaluation, implementation, and study of interactive computing systems for human use. ACM SIGCHI provides an international, interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of ideas about the field of human-computer interaction (HCI).

ACM SIGCHI. Organizations>Human Computer Interaction>Regional