Human-computer interaction

The study of the behaviour and interaction between digital devices and human beings.

HCI

knowledge

sector-specific

Human-computer interaction is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

ICT accessibility tester: ICT accessibility testers evaluate websites, software applications, systems or user interface components with regards to friendliness, operability of the navigation and visibility to all types of users, especially including those with special needs or disabilities.
ICT usability tester: ICT usability testers ensure compliance with requirements and strive for optimal usability within the software engineering cycle phases (analysis, design, implementation, and deployment). They also work closely with users (analysts) to research for and document user profiles, analyse tasks, workflows, and user scenarios.
User interface designer: User interface designers are in charge of designing user interfaces for applications and systems. They perform layout, graphics and dialogues design activities as well as adaptation activities.
User experience analyst: User experience analysts assess client interaction and experience and analyse users’ behaviours, attitudes, and emotions about the usage of a particular product, system or service. They make proposals for the improvement of the interface and usability of products, systems or services. In doing so, they take into consideration the practical, experiential, affective, meaningful and valuable aspects of human–computer interaction and product ownership, as well as the person’s perceptions of system aspects such as utility, ease of use and efficiency, and user experience dynamics.

Human-computer interaction is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

ICT teacher secondary school: ICT teachers at secondary schools provide education to students, commonly children and young adults, in a secondary school setting. They are usually subject teachers, specialised and instructing in their own field of study, ICT. They prepare lesson plans and materials, monitor the students’ progress, assist individually when necessary, and evaluate the students’ knowledge and performance on the subject of ICT through assignments, tests and examinations.
Digital games tester: Digital games testers review and test various genres of digital games by playing them in order to find bugs and glitches within the game’s functionality or graphics. They may evaluate the capacity of attraction and playability of games. They may also debug the games themselves.
Secondary school teacher: Secondary school teachers provide education to students, commonly children and young adults, in a secondary school setting. They are usually specialist subject teachers, who instruct in their own field of study. They prepare lesson plans and materials, monitor the students’ progress, assist individually when necessary and evaluate their knowledge and performance through assignments, tests and examinations.
User interface developer: User interface developers implement, code, document and maintain the interface of a software system by using front-end development technologies.
E-learning architect: E-learning architects establish goals and procedures for the application of learning technologies within an organisation and the creation of an infrastructure that will support these goals and procedures.
ICT resilience manager: ICT resilience managers research, plan and develop models, policies, methods, techniques and tools that enhance an organisation’s cyber security, resilience and disaster recovery.

References

1. Human-computer interaction – ESCO