CS474: Human Computer Interaction - Applications in Constrained Environments

Activity Goals

The goals of this activity are:
  1. To identify how constraints are employed as implicit signifiers

Supplemental Reading

Feel free to visit these resources for supplemental background reading material.

The Activity

Directions

Consider the activity models and answer the questions provided. First reflect on these questions on your own briefly, before discussing and comparing your thoughts with your group. Appoint one member of your group to discuss your findings with the class, and the rest of the group should help that member prepare their response. Answer each question individually from the activity, and compare with your group to prepare for our whole-class discussion. After class, think about the questions in the reflective prompt and respond to those individually in your notebook. Report out on areas of disagreement or items for which you and your group identified alternative approaches. Write down and report out questions you encountered along the way for group discussion.

Model 1: Leveraging Constraints for Discovery

An RV power pedestal showing various American electrical outlet shapes, from Pintrest

Questions

  1. What makes the assembly in Norman Figure 4.1 so easy to put together without instructions?
  2. What is different about the outlets of various amperages in the figure above? Are their shapes different out of functional necessity?
  3. Look up aviation design maneuvering speed (Va). What does this speed represent?
  4. Many vehicles only allow the rear-view camera to activate when the vehicle is in reverse. This is an example of an interlock. What is an interlock and why is this done?
  5. Imagine a scenario in which a device automatically turns off unless a certain smart phone is within proximity of the device. How might this work, what would be the benefit, and how might you indicate that the device is available or locked?
  6. What are other examples of environmental constraints to facilitate correct user operation?
  7. Can you identify examples where the addition of a constraint would improve the usability of a device?

Submission

I encourage you to submit your answers to the questions (and ask your own questions!) using the Class Activity Questions discussion board. You may also respond to questions or comments made by others, or ask follow-up questions there. Answer any reflective prompt questions in the Reflective Journal section of your OneNote Classroom personal section. You can find the link to the class notebook on the syllabus.