UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2012/2013
SECOND YEAR EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 2308 HUMAN COMPUTER INTERFACE
DATE: DECEMBER, 2012 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
(a) Differentiate the terms “affordance” and “visibility” as used in usability
principle (4 Marks)
(b) Norman describes three differences between knowledge in the world and
knowledge in the head. Explain the difference. (3 Marks)
(c) Differentiate “recognition rather than recall” as used in HCI (2 Marks)
(d) Using an example discuss the concept of Hierarchical task analysis. (3 Marks)
(e) Briefly describe two usability goals (2 Marks)
(f) There are mainly five types of user participation. Describe any two. (2 Marks)
(g) Discuss any two knowledge representation applied in HCI. (2 Marks)
(h) List any three Shneiderman’s Golden Rules of design (3 Marks)
(i) Explain the concept of “HOME-RUN” as used in web usability (7 Marks)
(j) Discuss focused attention and show its application in system interfaces
(2 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
(a) Explain the concept of “user experience” in design (4 Marks)
(b) Describe any four approaches to user support (4 Marks)
(c) With the help of comments, explain briefly any four usability heuristics.
(4 Marks)
(d) Explain the four main issues involved in the process of Interaction Design.
(4 Marks)
(e) Differentiate between Ecological and Constructivism theories as used in HCI.
(4 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
(a) KCA University is designing an intranet system to ensure that marketing staff
alwayshave the most up-to-date information on products and special offers, and have
immediate access to students requests.. Give a root definition for this system using
the CATWOE elements (6 Marks)
(b) Describe the steps in the Usability Engineering Life cycle (4 Marks)
(c) Explain the way in which menus favour knowledge in the world over
knowledge in the head. (2 Marks)
(d) Explain any four facilities included in an interactive system that allows users to
recover from their mistakes (4 Marks)
(e) Describe any two essential differences between the HCI design model and the
Software engineering design model (4 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
(a) Discuss features of direct manipulation interaction style (4 Marks)
(b) Differentiate the terms Groupware and Computer Supported Cooperative
Work (CSCW) (4 Marks)
(c) Using an example define and describe the concept of GOMS (4 Marks)
(d) To do a walkthrough four things are needed. List and explain (4 Marks)
(e) List the main goals of Evaluation in HCI (4 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
(a) Compare and contrast “composite metaphor” and “verbal metaphor” (4 Marks)
(b) List and briefly explain any two Principles of Flexibility that support usability.
(2 Marks)
(c) Brief discuss any two techniques for knowledge representation in an Adaptive
Help System (2 Marks)
(d) Discuss Gestalt law and discuss any four way it applies in interface design
(6 Marks)
(e) Explain, using an examples, the principles HTA (6 Marks)
