UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2014/2015
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
DIT 406 HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION
DATE: AUGUST 2016 TIME: 1½HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Any THREE Questions.
QUESTION ONE
a) Define the following terms as used in Human Computer Interaction:
i) Metaphor [2 Marks]
ii) Interactive design [2 Marks]
iii)Conceptual model [2 Marks]
b) Describe the term user-centered design? [2 Marks]
c) Discuss how evaluation fits into a user-centered design lifecycle [2 Marks]
d) Describe two techniques for evaluation, highlighting their key points and the differences
between them [4 Marks]
e) Name three physical input devices that can be used to perform selections? [6 Marks]
QUESTION TWO
a) The Beat Corporation has won a contract to develop the interface to a media player for digital
music in a range of formats, such as MP3 and WMA. In contrast to many of these applications,
the interface is being designed to support elderly users. Write a brief technical report for your
project manager to describe how you would develop the detailed requirements for this interface.
You must identify any potential problems that could affect your proposal. [10 Marks]
b) Contrast the different problems that can arise when designers attempt to identify the
requirements for interactive systems from novice and expert users [10 Marks]
QUESTION THREE
a) Many everyday systems and products seem to be designed with little regard to usability a
system is regarded as usable when it has considered some factors, explain four of this factors
[4 marks]
b) Environmental factors can impair users’ ability to recall information that is necessary to
cooperate complex, computer systems. Briefly explain how such disruptions can impair both
short-term AND long-term memory. [6 Marks]
c) You have been asked to help in the development of a new computerized call centre.
Customers from a national Bank will ring up if they wish to change the details of their account.
For instance, they might want to open a new account, close an old account, they might want to
change the address of the person who owns the account and so on.
i) Briefly explain how you might use a number of different requirements elicitation
techniques to identify the potential usability problems that might arise for people working with
this new system. [8 Marks]
ii) Identify the principle strengths and weaknesses of each technique [2 Marks]
QUESTION FOUR
a) Describe by use of the diagram the Extended human information processing
[6 Marks]
b) Explain the types of user support which might be required for the system . [2 Marks]
c) How can the designers and users bridge the gulf of evaluation and gulf execution
[4 Marks]
d) How can the designers and users bridge the gulf of execution [2 Marks]
d) What happens if the user’s conceptual model does not match the designers conceptual model?
[4 Marks]
e) Discuss the term mapping in terms of GUI design [2 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE
a) Based on your experience, give an example of a software tool (application) that allows
significant interaction via direct manipulation.
i. Indicate your views on the positive and negative aspects of working with this tool.
[10 Marks]
ii. Compare the constructivist and ecological theories of perception and give examples of how
each has influenced interface design [6 Marks]
b) Discuss an example of an affordance in a real world, physical object and in a user interface.
[4 Marks]
