CS8079 – HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION VII Semester CSE

DHANALAKSHMI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Tambaram, Chennai

Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering

CS8079 – Human Computer Interaction

Year / Sem : IV / VII
2 Marks Q & A

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 CS8079 – HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION VII Semester CSE

UNIT – I
FOUNDATIONS OF HCI

The Human: I/O channels – Memory – Reasoning and problem solving; The computer: Devices –
Memory – processing and networks; Interaction: Models – frameworks – Ergonomics – styles –
elements – interactivity – Paradigms.

PART – A
1. What is meant by Human-computer interaction?
Human-computer interaction is the study, planning and design of how people computer works together so
that a person’s needs are satisfied in the most effective way.

2. List the input and output channels?

Input and output channels
1) Visual channel
2) Auditory channel
3) Haptic channel –movement

3. Where the Information is stored in memory?

Information stored in following memory
1) Sensory memory
2) Short-term (working) memory
3) Long-term memory

4. What are the capabilities and limitations of visual processing?

Display screens can be used in various public places to offer information, link spaces or act as message
areas. These are often called situated displays as they take their meaning from the location in which they are
situated presenter’s shadow can often fall across the screen.

5. What is long-term memory?

It stores factual information, experiential knowledge, procedural rules of behaviour it has a huge, if not
unlimited, capacity. Secondly, it has a relatively slow access time of approximately a tenth of a second.
Thirdly, forgetting occurs more slowly.

6. What is short term memory?

Short-term memory or working memory acts as a ‘scratch-pad’ for temporary recall of information. It is
used to store information which is only required fleetingly Short-term memory can be accessed rapidly, in
the order of 70ms. However, it also decays rapidly, meaning that information can only be held there
temporarily, in the order of 200ms.
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 CS8079 – HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION VII Semester CSE

7. Define – Reasoning. (A/M−17)

Reasoning is the process by which we use the knowledge we have to draw conclusions or infer something
new about the domain of interest.

8. List the types of reasoning? (A/M−17)

Types of reasoning
1) Deductive reasoning
2) Inductive reasoning
3) Abductive reasoning

9. Define – Gestalt theory

Gestalt theory is defined as information processing theory. It is attractive in terms of its description of
human problem solving. it does not provide sufficient evidence or structure to support its theories.

10. List the POSITIONING, POINTING and DRAWING devices?

Positioning, Pointing and Drawing Devices
1) Mouse
2) Touchpad
3) Trackball and thumbwheel
4) Joystick and keyboard nipple
5) Touch – sensitive screens

11. What are the display devices?

Display devices
1) Bitmap displays – resolution and color
2) Liquid crystal display
3) Special displays
4) Virtual reality helmets
5) Whole – body tracking

12. What are the stages of execution and evaluation cycle / Norman’s model of interaction?
Stages for Norman’s model of interaction
1) Establishing the goal.
2) Forming the intention.
3) Specifying the action sequence.
4) Executing the action.
5) Perceiving the system state.
6) Interpreting the system state.
7) Evaluating the system state with respect to the goals and intentions.

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 CS8079 – HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION VII Semester CSE

13. What are the goals of interface design?

The goals of interface design
1) Reduce visual work.
2) Reduce intellectual work.
3) Reduce memory work.
4) Reduce motor work.
5) Minimize or eliminate any burdens

14. What are the several factors that can limit the speed of an interactive system? (A/M−18)
Factors for to limit the speed of an interactive system
1) Computation bound
2) Storage channel bound
3) Graphics bound
4) Network capacity

15. What is ergonomics? (A/M−17)

Ergonomics (or human factors) is traditionally the study of the physical characteristics of the interaction:
how the controls are designed, the physical environment in which the interaction takes place, and the layout
and physical qualities of the screen.

16. What are the mental models and why they important in interface design? (A/M−17)
Mental models are one of the most important concepts in human–computer interaction (HCI). It's a prime
goal for designers to make the user interface communicate the system's basic nature well enough. The users
form reasonably accurate (and thus useful) mental models. Individual users each have their own mental
model.

17. What is text entry devices? (A/M−17)

Text entry device is an interface that is used to enter text information an electronic device. Most laptop
computers have an integrated mechanical keyboard, and desktop computers are usually operated primarily
using a keyboard and mouse. Devices such as smartphones and tablets mean that interfaces such as virtual
keyboards and voice recognition are becoming more popular as text entry systems.

18. What is Command line interface?

The command line interface was the first interactive dialog style to be commonly used. It provides a means
of expressing instructions to the computer directly, using function keys, single characters, abbreviations or
whole-word commands.

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 CS8079 – HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION VII Semester CSE

19. What are the Advantages of Command line interface?

Command line interfaces are powerful in that they offer direct access to system functionality and can be
combined to apply a number of tools to the same data. They are also flexible: the command often has a
number of options or parameters that will vary its behavior in some way.

20. What are the disadvantages of Command line interface?

Commands must be remembered, as no clue is provided in the command line to indicate which command is
needed. The commands used should be terms within the vocabulary of the user rather than the technician.

21. What is WIMP interface?

WIMP stands for windows, icons, menus and pointer. It is the default interface style for the majority of
interactive computer systems in use today, especially in the PC and desktop workstation arena.

22. List the elements of WIMP interface.

Elements of WIMP interface.
1) Windows
2) Icons
3) Pointers
4) Menus
5) Buttons
6) Toolbars
7) Palettes
8) Dialog boxes

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