HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
second edition
Dix, Finlay, Abowd and Beale
Chapter 2 - The computer
Overview
A computer system comprises various elements, each of which affects the user of the system.
- Input devices for interactive use, allowing text entry, drawing and selection from the screen:
- text entry: keyboard, speech and handwriting
- pointing: principally the mouse
- 3D interaction devices
- Output devices for interactive use, principally different forms of screen, but also audible outputs.
- Paper output and input: the paperless office and the less-paper office:
- different types of printers and their characteristics, character styles and fonts
- scanners and optical character recognition
- Memory:
- short-term memory: RAM
- long-term memory: magnetic and optical disks
- capacity limitations related to document and video storage
- access methods as they limit or help the user
- Information is processed and applied:
- the effects when systems run too slow or too fast, the myth of the infinitely fast machine
- limitations on processing speed
- networks and their impact on system performance.
Detailed table of contents