Liang-Shih Lin

MB2013-0483
Human Computer Interaction: Assignment 1
Task 1
1.1)

GOMS: Stands for Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection Rules. GOM is the
most famous task analysis modules (Pearson, 2014), and is a simple technique for
comparing how efficient a design is (AndrewUX, 2012). This model is best used to
determine how skilled users will do in haphazard situations, which typically means to
predict user behaviours. It is a technique commonly used in software designs (Card,
Moran and Newell, 1983).
Goals: are what the company wants to achieve. The Chikomo enterprises would want
to start having a certain profit margin they want to reach for the year. To achieve that
goal, they will need to make sure that customers decide to buy products from their
supermarket instead of going to other stores. They should reach for the goal of
buying a shop of their own which will reduce the monthly expenses.
Operators: The Mukanga will need to manage their budget. They will need more
employees. Employ more staff members to operate the supermarket. Security to
keep the supermarket safe from thievery.
Method: By keeping track of their expenses minus their earnings, this is done with
the tills which connects to their database manipulating the value on it. By
implementing coupons, sales or shopping cards, they can increase the number of
customers which comes to shop at their supermarket
Selection Rules: Each alley of shelves will have a sign hanging from the ceiling
indicating what the customer will generally find in the alley like sweets or meat.
Customers can also choose to either pay by credit card or by cash. If the customer
doesnt have a shopping card from that supermarket, they can always choose to sign
up for one

1.2)

Tablets/iPads
They offer the touch screen interface which allows the user to interact with the GUI.
However, it isnt the only thing that the touch screen offers, the devices ability to
detect the gravity is also one.
Virtual Worlds
They offer the user the ability to customize their characters on creation and do as
they please. In Role-Playing Games(RPG), the player can assume a certain role by
choosing the class and doing what that class is intended. E.g a warrior will be a class
in which soaks up the damage for his teammates.
Subway Ticket vending machines/ATM
These machines have a small monitor that helps the user through a process to
provide them with their appropriate ticket. Users can use either the touch screen or
the buttons provided to interact with the machine.
Gaming Consoles
Gaming consoles are devices which contain the most optimal hardware for the

games prescribed for that specific console. There is a variety of gaming consoles, but
they all interact with the users in similar way. Such as displaying what is happening
on the screen and the user react to it by either using a controller or a USB device.
E.g Playstation, Wii, Xbox, and one of the old mini gaming console, Gameboy.
Task 2
2.1
When creating a new interactive system, designers need to make sure that people
understand the objects that they had designed. Metaphors was the best way to describe
something by associating the real world object (what people are more familiar with) and
compare it with what the designer is designing. Over time, the way metaphors are used so
much to describe objects in design, they start becoming what makes up that object.
After understanding what a metaphor is, we need to also understand what blends is since it
forms part of the metaphor. Blends is the connection between the real life object and the
object they are trying to associate it with in the design that the designer created. The real life
object would be the source domain and the design object would be the target domain.
This will give the user a good idea as to what the object does. However for metaphors and
blends to work, the two domains need to be able to correspond with each other. To achieve
this, we need to use bodily schemas from experience that people has obtained to let them
make sense of the metaphor and the blend between them.
When using metaphors, you cant just use any random metaphors though. You need to
make sure that they have the following principles:
Integration: This is when you are able to manipulate the whole blend but not affecting
the web of relationships.
Unpacking: is when people are able to open up the blend and understand what is
inputted and how the whole thing functions.
Topology: This is about how the concepts are organised and structured.
Analysis: needs to be done to understand how people will interpret metaphors
Design: The objects used in the metaphors need to represent real life objects and
actions that most people will be familiar with.
To further explain what a metaphor is when used in design, I would like to take a computer
as an example. A computer has memory, which means exactly as the name implies, the
computer can remember information that is inputted. Windows is like the windows to the
building, vehicles, show cases etcetra, where you can look into it. Another example is
Folders and Files, folders are used to store and organise files, just like how it works in the
real world.
2.2
Languages provides you with a way of expressing things, and design language
enables you to express the designs you have created. Design languages are easy
to learn, you dont need to know that much to understand how the language
works.
Reference

Designlanguage.com, (2014). Design Language. [online] Available at:

http://www.designlanguage.com/ [Accessed 17 Aug. 2014].

Hendrix, M. (2013). Designing with Metaphors - Point of View - September 2013. [online]
Metropolismag.com. Available at: http://www.metropolismag.com/Point-of-View/September2013/Designing-with-Metaphors/ [Accessed 17 Aug. 2014].
Jonassen, D., Tessmer, M. and Hannum, W. (1999). Task analysis methods for instructional
design. 1st ed. Mahwah, N.J.: L. Erlbaum Associates.
Learning Theories and Models Summaries (in Plain English), (2014). GOMS Model (Card,
Moran, and Newell) | Learning Theories. [online] Available at: http://www.learningtheories.com/goms-model-card-moran-and-newell.html [Accessed 17 Aug. 2014].
Quora.com, (2014). What are the best design languages to learn as a designer in the user
experience design field? - Quora. [online] Available at: http://www.quora.com/UserExperience/What-are-the-best-design-languages-to-learn-as-a-designer-in-the-userexperience-design-field [Accessed 17 Aug. 2014].
Usabilitybok.org, (2014). GOMS | Usability Body of Knowledge. [online] Available at:
http://www.usabilitybok.org/goms [Accessed 17 Aug. 2014].