UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2013/2014
ORDINARY EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DIT 406 HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION
DATE: AUGUST, 2014 TIME: 1½HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Any Three Questions.
QUESTION ONE
(a) List any four goals of HCI. [2 Marks]
(b) Explain the term Task Analysis [2 Marks]
(c) Briefly explain and illustrate using a diagram, the evaluation execution cycle proposed byDonald Norman
[6 Marks]
(d) The focal point of Gestalt theory is the idea of “grouping,” or how we tend to interpret a visual field or
problem in a certain way. Explain briefly the four main factors that determine grouping . [4 Marks]
(e) Differentiate the terms as used in HCI: [4 Marks]
i. “gulf of execution” and “gulf of evaluation”.
ii. Knowledge in the head and knowledge in the world
(f) List any two Shneiderman‟s Golden Rules [2 Marks]
QUESTION TWO
(a) Differentiate between:
i. Closure and Chunking [4 Marks]
ii. “affordance” and “visibility” as used in usability principle [4 Marks]
(b) Evaluation is concerned with gathering data about the usability of a design or product by a specified group
of users for a particular activity within a specified environment or work context. There are a wide range of
methods which can be used for evaluation.
i. List four important things to consider regardless of the type of evaluation being done. [4 Marks]
ii. State any two typical reasons why evaluations are done. [2 Marks]
(c) Discuss three major principles of direct manipulation [6 Marks]
QUESTION THREE
(a) Briefly explain why „think aloud‟ techniques can be a cost-effective tool for formative evaluation. [2 Marks]
(b) Name two differences between short and long term memory. [2 Marks]
(c) Why is functional ageing important for the design of interactive systems? [2 Marks]
(d) What are the benefits of observational rather than lab based evaluations? [2 Marks]
(e) State and explain any three non-computer method of developing prototypes [2 Marks]
(f) State and explain any four Metaphor creation principles [4 Marks]
(g) Briefly discuss any four reasons why design is difficult when building human computer interaction systems.
[2 Marks]
(h) Briefly explain what is meant by the terms perception, physiology and cognition. [4 Marks]
QUESTION FOUR
(a) Identify two different ways in which `functional ageing’ can affect interface development. [4 Marks]
(b) Environmental factors can impair users’ ability to recall information that is necessary to cooperate complex,
computer systems. Brielfy 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. 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. Identify the principle strenghts and weaknesses of each technique [10 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE
(a) Give three examples of how websites can aid accessibility [4 Marks]
(b) List and briefly explain any three Principles of Flexibility that support usability. [6 Marks]
(c) Brief discuss any two techniques for doing evaluation [4 Marks]
(d) Explain “Knowledge in the head v/s Knowledge in the world” [4 Marks]
(e) Explain, using an examples, the principles of cognitive walk through [2 Marks]
