USABILITY ENGINEERING AND HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION:

Introduction:
This Topic was presented by Mr. Innocent Kihaka and Mr. Side S. Side. Actually to my opinions I can say it was the best presentation among the best presentations which have already presented.
Before going deeper to this topic let us have a look on some important terminologies which used in this topic which might confuse sometimes if not used well.
Usability; This usability means that something can be very easy to use but not necessary to be usefully. It is normally user friendly.
Usefulness; Usefulness means that something is very useful but it is very difficult to use i.e. not user friendly.

Why this UE and HCI?
Many years ago people were struggling on how to improve the efficient of the machine. The research made at that time showed that in order the efficient of the machine the computer users were diverse and there was a need of human interactive system. Over some years the ICT has developed into discipline/field in its own right.

By so doing they were intending to increase the productivity as its work force is more productive. Also decreases training and supportive costs as well as increasing the customer satisfaction and decreases technophobia. However they succeed to some extent since they reduces disastrous and fatal errors in the system which are dangerous to human life.

In fact they advanced a lot in designing products. They were having to approaches of designing products; the Product Centered Design and the User Centered Design. The product centered design is the means of producing products without caring the need of the user and the user centered design is the design by which the designing process usually considering the needs of the user. This style of designing proved to be efficient than the product centered. Here the user used to command the machine to do what the user needs and not the user do what the machine needs.

The user centered approach proved to have the following advantages based on the user; It is easy to learn and to use as well (Learn ability), it is supportive to products in carrying out a certain task (efficiency), also it is easy to memorize how the system is used once it has been learned. In addition to that, the user centered approach is safe and protecting the user from dangerous undesirable situations, it is entertaining and the most important thing is that it motivates by encouraging the user to continue working with it.

Difficulties of the User Centered Approach;
Since the user centered approach requires the suggestions from users, it is difficult to get the clear information especially from unskilled people. Also it needs large amount of in of fund in developing new products, very difficult to build a system which is suitable for all types of users and their needs.

UE and HCI are very important to human life especially in the world of today whereby computers are the great tool for facilitating the human work. In order to decrease the digital divide to our societies, computer products should be decreased the cost but still meet the intended quality. Also they should be made in such a way that they can be used in different groups of people no matter their level of professional i.e. layman can use them effectively.