ABSTRACT
The content and information of a multimedia application may be right on target for an intended task, but if the interface between human and computer is not designed well, then the information and instruction may be ineffective or inaccessible. Chapter 7 discusses specific screen design issues (i.e., placement of text, font sizes), and although these issues are certainly a component of the human-computer interface (HCI), this chapter discusses HCI issues at a broader level, dealing with concepts such as intuitiveness and transparency to improve the clarity, usability, and effectiveness of computer systems. Specifically, in this chapter I
define the field human-computer interface as it applies to multimedia development
explain the characteristics of intuitive and transparent interfaces and
present basic principles for effective human-computer interfaces.
