The term human-computer interaction (HCI) was adopted in the mid-1980s as a means of describing the field of user interface system. This term has much broader scope than just the design of the interface and is concerned with all those aspects that relate to the interaction between users and computers. The technological advancements in silicon chip have changed the world so that many people use or come in contact with computers. These changes in the technology have put forth two important challenges to HCI designers.
The first of these is that how to keep abreast of changes in the technology. The second is that how to ensure that their designs offer good HCI as well as harnessing the potential functionality of the new technology. The study of HCI involves multiple disciplines. The disciplines that contribute to HCI are Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Linguistics, Philosophy, Sociology, Cognitive Psychology, Ergonomics & human factor, Engineering etc. The goal of HCI is to develop or improve the safety, utility, effectiveness, efficiency, and usability of systems that include computers and to ensure that they integrate well in the organizational settings in which they are used. The difficult part is knowing how best to achieve this goal. Those involved in HCI attempt this from a multidisciplinary perspective.
The main problem as it applies to our domain, is concerned that of designing and technically realizing interfaces that make human-computer interaction easier and more effective. Human-Computer Interaction perspective attempts to solve following problems:
* How can interaction be made clearer and more efficient?
* How can interfaces offer better support for their users' tasks, plans and goals?
* How can information be presented more effectively?
* How can the design and implementation of good interfaces be made easier?
