Homepage for IRLS575 Human Factors in Information Systems. Martin Frické Material may be added or changed on a continuing basis. One file that will remain untouched throughout is that containing the course requirements.
General overview	Although Human Factors in Information Systems is the official title of the course, the actual content of the course deals primarily with Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).   HCI itself addresses the problem of designing composite systems, of humans and computers, which are both safe and efficient.   This is an extremely important problem these days because everybody is, or will be, a User. [30 years ago, computers could have all sorts of interface shortcomings because only experts used them and the experts could use their skills to overcome the difficulties. But shortly we will all be Users.]   When looking at HCI, four considerations, and their interactions, are prominent human capabilities. These include physical and cognitive issues: what folk can do with their hands, eyes, and brains. Humans highly variable, and have cognitive strengths and weaknesses (for example, humans have poor memories yet good abilities to recognize patterns in a visual scene). the technical features of the computing machines. Principally what the computer presents, and receives by way of input and output; and the style of the interaction between the User and the computer. For example, an older computer might be able to take input only from a keyboard, and give output only to a printer-- in which case, human-computer interaction would be similar to a dialog or conversation (these days the possibilities are far richer). the tasks being undertaken. For example, there is a world of difference between typing in a document for word processing, and producing some architectural drawings using a CAD/CAM package. Additionally, a modern trend is that of moving from the single user-- single interface to group working and multitasking (for example, computers are used extensively now in the cockpits of commercial aircraft and in that setting there are a team of humans interacting with several computers). the environment. What is the work, or task, setting? What are its physical and socio-cultural characteristics? (For example, it is unwise to use sound input or output in a noisy setting; another example, it is unwise to expect children to spell keywords perfectly for an Online Public Access Catalog.)
Many academic disciplines have a role to play	Cognitive psychology knowledge about what users can and cannot be expected to do identify and explain the nature and causes of some of the problems that Users encounter supply modelling tools and methods to help build interfaces that are easy to use Social psychology (social knowledge) knowledge of context of use identify and explain how people work together and what computer systems are needed to support collaborative working frameworks for social interaction and conversation that can form the basis of HCI frameworks Organizational psychology (organizational knowledge) provide models of processes and structures in organizations identify 'trouble spots' in organizations which stop computers being used optimally supply methods for design and evaluation of new technologies that are being introducedinto the work settings Computer Science transforming the information from the input devices into input that the computer can make use of (both software and hardware) tranforming the output from the computer into a form suitable for the output devices (both software and hardware) producing the computing environments to host the favoured interaction style (both software and hardware) Ergonomics matching the physical characteristics of the devices with the physiological characteristics of the User special considerations for Users with disabilities (eg. what kind of mouse is suitable for a User with arthritis) safety issues connected with the Users being injured (RSI etc.) Linguistics understanding language issues designing syntactically simple, yet semantically powerful and unambiguous, language fragments help with iconic or diagrammatic languages Artificial intelligence leverage the abilities of both the User and the computer agents, knowbots, wizards intelligent help systems intelligent interfaces Philosophy helps with most academic disciplines, due to its dispassionate, deep, and clear analysis of problems Sociology how different people, of different cultures, behave, individually and in groups, when carrying out tasks using computers Anthropology. how different people, of different cultures, behave, individually and in groups, when carrying out tasks using computers
In sum	HCI is a multi-disciplinary field encompassing cognitive psychology, social and organizational psychology, computer science, ergonomics, linguistics, artificial intelligence, philosophy, sociology and anthropology. HCI is concerned with the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computer systems and study of major phenomena surrounding their use.
Some important links	A student who registers in this course will be give an account with a User name and a password. They will then be able to access fuller versions of the following links (complete with full navigation facilities). The present links point to briefer versions, to give intending students some idea of what is on offer. Coursework and assignments Course outline Direct link to course Readings Requirements To do list
Some important School Links	Registration Computer and Network requirements for access