Human-Computer Interaction

 

Human Computer Interaction

What is HCI

HCI stand for Human-Computer interaction is a knowledge that cover about how people interact with technology or computer. Which allows the interaction between the user (Human) and technology (Computer) to be successful. As a result, both of them can work-together.

 

Human: - is the one who use the technology is either individual or group of people, where the user interacts with by touching, voicing, hearing and more.

 

Computer: - Moreover, the meaning by computer here is not referring to computer desktop only. However, it referring to any kind of technologies that include devices such as mobile phone, even the design of website also can refer as “Computer”.

 

Interaction: - an action that allows both computer and human to work together, or in other words the one in charge to let the user and computer to understand. Which produce usable systems.

 

Uses of HCI

Meanwhile, in terms of the uses of HCI is to produce usable and safe systems with functional systems. Furthermore, it also helps in terms understandable of how people use the technologies. In addition, it also uses to develop techniques and tools in order to build the suitable systems.

 

There are 3 types of HCI Development which are: -

1.      Hardware Interaction

The short definition of hardware interaction is people interact with the technologies by pressing or touching the buttons for example keyboard, mouses, controller and much more. This allows the systems to understanding what the user interact with and do what the user wanted. For example, in keyboard when user playing game usually, they will press “WASD” keys in order to move the character. As a result, the user pressing the key is interaction while the keyboard is part of hardware. This explanation can be seen on Figure.1 below shows the example of hardware interaction where shows someone interact with keyboard.

 

Figure 1

 

2.      Motion Interaction

For the definition of motion interaction, is people interact with the technologies by motion or by moving the technologies. This kind of interaction can be seen on Nintendo Wii, where they use motion interaction in order the system to understand. Instead of pressing buttons, this type of interaction more into how the user movement. For example, moving right to left and left to right which can be seen on tennis games in Nintendo Wii; where the user need to move left and right in order to control the character. This can be seen on Figure.2 below, that shows the example of motion interaction by using Nintendo Wii.

 


Figure 2

3.      Voice Interaction

Lastly, will be the voice interaction. Voice interaction is a new type of interaction where the user using, they voice in order to interact with the systems which in this case will be in video game. For example, “Talking Tom”; the mobile game that’s can detect user voice where the cat can copy it with the character type of voice. Not only that, another example will be “Scream Go Hero” where the video game needs the user voice to make the character jump. Which can be seen on Figure.3 below Jimmy Fallon play 'Scream Go Hero' by using user voice.

 

Figure 3


Furthermore, when talking about the timeline of 3 type of HCI or Human Computer Interaction. The below shows will talk about what kind of technologies that using according to 3 stages which are Early Stage until Present Stage, where also can be seen the evolution of Human Computer Interaction.

Early Stage

For the early stage of HCI (Human Computer Interaction), its not much of technologies that people can interact with. Therefore, the technologies during the early stage are Mouse and Keyboard.

Mouse and Keyboard uses: - During the early stage, both of this Hardware Interaction use to help the user and help them to make it easy. Like for mouse, it used to let the user easy to see on the screen where the user wants to point to and click by looking at the cursor. Furthermore, in early stage the mouse not using light sensor instead the old version, using rubber balls in order to move the mouse. This can be seen on Figure.4 below. Moreover, in terms of gaming the mouse use mostly for camera movement only and by shooting or targeting, that according to the video game settings as well.

 

Figure 4


Meanwhile, for the keyboard. The uses of keyboard it helps the user to write by clicking the keyboard that appear on the screen what letters that the user is clicking. In addition, in terms of gaming side, the keyboard used to move the character. Where the uses of arrows frequently use that can be seen on Figure.5 below the example of keyboard used in video game, where it shows what keys to press in order to move.

 

Figure 5

Middle Stage

The next stage will be the middle stage, where this stage can be seen the changes of HCI that use especially in game industry. Not only that in this middle also have new type of hardware interaction and the new interaction began to introduce.

Controller: - In middle stage, the new invention and more kind of invention been created after looking back on the feedback during early stage. One of the new inventions that consider as middle stage is Controller. This one of hardware interaction have different kind of design and type which according to the games. For example, steering wheel, normal controller, guitar controller that can be seen on Figure.6 below 3 different controller.

 



Figure 6

Like normal controller, can be seen that this controller has basic design and buttons as well as joystick for the movement, that basically used in almost all type of games. While, for the steering wheel, this use for the racing games only. This clearly can be seen on the design of the controller itself. Moreover, for the guitar controller used for example Guitar Hero games, or games about playing guitars competition. In conclusion, the uses of all three of them are the same. Which is allows the user to control the game character or to play the game much easier and more comfortable ways. Even-though three of them have different style and design but the purpose still one and the way of using still have similar only the position of the controller just different. In terms of holding, it and the position of it which according to the design itself.

 

(Motion Interaction) Nintendo Wii: - The next invention, which also can consider in middle stage is the Nintendo Wii. This kind of console quite different in terms of how user interact with. This is because of it’s a motion interaction type of interaction. Different like before, where more into hardware type only. Due to the new interaction the uses of this game kind different as well. Instead of clicking buttons while sitting around, this kind of platform allows the user to move due to it need a motion in order the character to move inside the video game. By looking at it, this kind of interaction give good impact to the user; because of the user not only just playing while sitting around. However, the user can exercise while playing. The good example will be, the tennis game. When using this device, the way of playing tennis is the user need to swing their hands and move around like shows on Figure.7 below the example of person playing sports game using this Motion Interaction platform (Nintendo Wii).

 

Figure 7

Present Stage

Lastly, will be the present stage of HCI. During this Present Day, clearly can be seen the changes of both interaction and new interaction also introduce. Furthermore, below are some of platform that have in present stage.

Controller uses wireless: - The first one on the list will be the controller. This controller unlike the old version of it, because of the old version have much comfortable controller and the amazing things the new feature which are it wireless. For example, on Figure.8 below PS5 controller, which have wireless controller that allows the user to sit where ever they want as long the console can detect the controller with specific distance, but the way of using it still the same like the old one. Not only that, in new design of controller have really grip and wider as well comfortable for the user to hold it. However, it may have down-side of it, which the user needs to charge every time the battery is low.


Figure 8


Microphone (Voice Interaction): - Secondly, will the new invention that consider and introduce in the present stage which is Voice Interaction. This use invention are using Microphones as the device the detect the voice and in order people to interact with. Moreover, the example of microphone in this voice interaction will be the mobile phone microphone. Where it already build-in inside the devices. Furthermore, the uses of this microphone like mention earlier are to detect the voice or sound of the user according to the pitch that been set up. For example, in ‘Scream Go Hero’, this game use voice interaction in order to move the character until the finish line; this can be seen on Figure.9 below shows someone playing ‘Scream Go Hero’. In conclusion, even though this invention hard and different like others, in terms of out of 3 interaction this interaction only using voice, easy but for someone will be hard to use it especially in video game.

Figure 9


VR (Motion Interaction): - Lastly, will be about the VR. VR or Virtual Reality, is one of devices or technology that use motion interaction. That’s means due to the successful from previous motion interaction in console (Nintendo Wii). The present day, the interaction upgrade more and not only that, the design and way of using it as well much advance as well different. In Figure.10 below shows all VR parts, where people mostly know about the design of VR goggle. That goggle where instead of user looking at Television, this device helps the user looks and feel they inside the video game. In addition, they can even turn around the surrounding and explore the game by themselves and feels it too. Therefore, this device considers as Motion Interaction and the uses it clearly shows allows the user to feels and look around the video game themselves and play as the character of the game.


Figure 10


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