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Human-Computer Interface DesignHuman-Computer Interface Design

EE212-5-AU / CE653-7-AUEE212-5-AU / CE653-7-AU

Computing & Electronic

Systems

Autumn 2008

Moc Exam Questionsby

Edward Tsang

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Question 1Question 1There are five main types of GUI:There are five main types of GUI:

– MenusMenus– Form-fillingForm-filling– Command languagesCommand languages– Direct manipulationDirect manipulation– Natural languagesNatural languages

(a)(a) Briefly explain what they areBriefly explain what they are(b)(b) Which of these types would be appropriate for Which of these types would be appropriate for

users with weak eye-sight. Justify your answer users with weak eye-sight. Justify your answer carefully?carefully?

(c)(c) How would you evaluate the effectiveness of the How would you evaluate the effectiveness of the GUI type that you proposed in (b)?GUI type that you proposed in (b)?

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Answer to Question 1Answer to Question 1

(a)(a) Please refer to the lecture slides and text booksPlease refer to the lecture slides and text books(b)(b) This is an open question. There is no definite This is an open question. There is no definite

answer. However, you must be able to justify your answer. However, you must be able to justify your answer. For example, you may suggest that if answer. For example, you may suggest that if speech recognition and speech synthesis are speech recognition and speech synthesis are implemented, natural language is an appropriate implemented, natural language is an appropriate style because in this system, eye-sight is less style because in this system, eye-sight is less relevant.relevant.

(c)(c) Evaluation typically involves comparison. For Evaluation typically involves comparison. For example, you may compare your design with example, you may compare your design with another design. Or, to test the effectiveness of another design. Or, to test the effectiveness of speech recognition and synthesis, you may compare speech recognition and synthesis, you may compare your system against a text-based command-line your system against a text-based command-line system that uses natural language.system that uses natural language.

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Question 2Question 2(a)(a) What is a user model in HCI?What is a user model in HCI?(b)(b) Suppose you need to build a user model for a Suppose you need to build a user model for a

new programming language. What would this new programming language. What would this model involve?model involve?

(c)(c) How would a user model affect an error-handling How would a user model affect an error-handling design?design?

(d)(d) During evaluation, users expressed their During evaluation, users expressed their dissatisfaction on the system’s error-messages. dissatisfaction on the system’s error-messages. How would you use such feedback to improve How would you use such feedback to improve your system? Justify your answer carefully.your system? Justify your answer carefully.

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Answer to Question 2Answer to Question 2(a)(a) Please refer to the lecture slides and text booksPlease refer to the lecture slides and text books(b)(b) Open question, there are no definite answers. Open question, there are no definite answers.

Identifying users’ needs shouldn’t be difficult (to Identifying users’ needs shouldn’t be difficult (to edit, save, load compile, run programs) . edit, save, load compile, run programs) . Modelling users’ knowledge is non-trivial.Modelling users’ knowledge is non-trivial.

(c)(c) Error-handling heavily depends on the users’ Error-handling heavily depends on the users’ knowledge. knowledge.

(d)(d) Negative feedback could be due to (i) poor Negative feedback could be due to (i) poor design, or (ii) poor user modelling. Careful design, or (ii) poor user modelling. Careful evaluation procedures would help to identify evaluation procedures would help to identify which of these is the true culprit. [You should which of these is the true culprit. [You should justify your answer carefully.]justify your answer carefully.]

General GuidesGeneral Guides Make sure you answer the question directlyMake sure you answer the question directly

– E.g. If you are asked “Which of these types...” E.g. If you are asked “Which of these types...” you must pick one type. you must pick one type.

– If you are asked to compare and contrast, you If you are asked to compare and contrast, you must do exactly that.must do exactly that.

Bookwork questions need preparationBookwork questions need preparation Some questions demand deeper Some questions demand deeper

understandingunderstanding Open questions: you must justify your Open questions: you must justify your

answers carefully.answers carefully.

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