The Human-Computer Interface (HCI) deals with the methods
by which computers and their users communicate. It is the process of designing
interface software so that computers are pleasant, easy to use and do what people
want them to do. Dealing with HCI requires the study of not only the hardware
of the computer, but that of the human side also. Therefore attention must be
paid to human psychology and physiology. This is because to build a better two-way
communication, one must know the capabilities and limitation of both sides. This
seminar also deals with concepts and guidelines that should be followed in order
to produce a good HCI. Specifically dealt with topics include Dialogue Design,
Presentation Design, General Input and Output.The
human brain is where all the cognitive functions take place. It is ultimately
where a human receives, interprets and stores information. Information can be
processed by the sense organs and sent to the brain faster and more precise than
the brain can handle. Many models have been developed in order to try and use
a computer analogy to brain functions but with mixed success.
They are however
quite useful because they present to us a model with which we can illustrate capabilities
and limitations.These models suggest that there
are two forms of human memory: short term and long term. Each sense appears to
have its own short-term memory, which acts like a buffer or staging area for input
from the particular sense organ to the brain. Any memory that is not reinforced
and moved to long-term memory is forgotten. Short term memory has a capacity of
about seven blocks of information but this too seems to be able to be increased
with practice and added levels of abstraction and association.
