Human-Computer Interaction and Dashboard - Essay Example

Introduction Human computer interaction refers to the study process of how people interact with computers. It involves telling how the computers have developed to interact with human beings or the level that they need to develop to achieve the goal. Several major companies as well as academic institutions have been studying Human Computer Interactions to increase the outputand ability in the working environment. According(Benbelkacemet al,2014 p.89), the computer system developers did not pay large effort and attention to human computer interface on the reason being that computers are complex machines to design and their demand that has outdone the demand for easy to use (Faiola 2007,p.78). Different individuals with different ideas tend to use the computer in different ways. In most cases the computers and software are developed to suite specific users. Moreover, another opinion for designing the HCI interface technology is that it changes quickly hence offering new possibilities of interaction that are not applicable in the previous research findings. Also, the user preferenceswould be influenced as the people may have different interfaces (Fuchs &Obrist 2010, p.644). HCI and Dashboard Dashboard is a visual display that has most important information needed to achieve various objectives. Through it association and proper arrangement in a single screen, it is possible to monitor information at a single glance. In the business intelligence area, the common and main tools of visualisation are dashboards and they provide effective solution to the overwhelming amount of data that the users may experience on daily basis (Hochheiser& Lazar 2007, p.350). The current developments in market recognise the dashboards and analysis of data as one of the driving forces that increases value to the companies. It indicates a tendency to expand end-user population with various needs.Classification of dashboards depends on the roles they seek to undertake. Some of the common dashboards include strategic, analytical, informational or the commonly known as the operational. Under normal situation, dashboards are highly usable for strategic purposes and normally provide general and quick overview of the health of organisation (Interaction Deign Foundation 2013). They provide quick comparisons and overviews in targeting all the values and the simple performance evaluations. On the other hand, analytical dashboards help in analysing the data and it includes comparisons, evaluating performance, reviewing extensive history and supporting interactions within the data especially drilling down the data into different levels. Whereas, the operational dashboards normally display data that needs real time and minute after minute attention. This has no statistics or the functionality analysis. They normally provide clear presentation and warnings concerns appropriate response in case there is an emergency event (Katherine 2010, p.89).The dashboards are mainly helpful in the departmental level rather than the executive level. Dashboardshas the ability make users carry out a specific requirement and they do not need to fit a particular category for them to be successful. Instead, it requires clear and immediate information in attempt to improve decision-making and comprehension of data (Koutsabasis&Vosinakis 2012p.78). Every modern company and organisation today benefit from business intelligence even though the managers do not know that. It is worth realising that every tool relevant in supporting data spread across the companies must have a real-time connection with business intelligence solutions. Business intelligence support the process of transforming data into meaningful information and then that information transformed into usable knowledge for companies. It is important that an organisations have to be aware of the tasks that apply to them and must have close connection with data belonging to business intelligence branch. Dash boards are applied as one of the tools that are used within the business sector. The increasing number of dashboards in companies and organisations is due to cheap aspect whereby many companies can afford easily. Moreover, the benefits that associated with dashboards have made them popular (Micheline 2012, p.23).Decision-making aspects are vital for every organisation and it does not need any explanation. Managers have to make decisions on daily basis those decisions affect the condition and performance of such company. Better decisions culminate in good companies and therefore, the management of companies must ensure that people in charge are able to make the best decisions that will ultimately facilitate the job (Pearson 2013, p.67). Advantages of Dashboard The advantages of dashboards include the ability to identify negative trends in the company and make respective corrective measures. Every efficient management must consist of the twofold aspect that involves stimulating and activating of the positive trends and this reduces the influence of the negative ones. Moreover, before one thinks about positives, the managers must eliminate any possible negative trend. This is the main task for the dashboards (Rubinstein 2013, p.67). According to Dix, A., Finlay, J. E. and Abowd, G. D. (2006) the dashboards can amend any conceivable negative patterns upon acknowledgment, localisation and investigation. The present day dashboards regularly uproot the negative patterns because of the capacity for modifying the genuine variables on the right pattern. The visualization capacities enhance the performed investigation, subsequently, making the business more effective. Under typical conditions, unadulterated information is insufficient to oversee and recognize every conceivable issue that worries with the organization. Regardless of the fact that something seems great, from outside, there may be numerous difficulties however the outer seems great.Although it is strange or unprofessional, it is really works and managers bear out occasionally. Therefore, modern dashboards support visual presentations concerning company performance indicators (Rubinstein & Good 2013, p.1337).The dashboards normally help in improving efficiency of the newly made decisions. The dashboards normally support decision making with better information while better means are more accurate and timely. Consequently, the better informed decisions made influences the performance of company. Therefore, when dashboards influence the decisions positively, it is possible to increase productivity of the company by the end of the day. Moreover, dashboard helps in determining the strategy and goals as a whole. In the modern companies has to be perfect in their management and more specially the thoughts and the decision making. Therefore, most of the attention managers must pay general strategy of the company, which will base upon.The modern dashboards link the company data and manager toenable existing strategies, control and improve them accordingly. These activities normally increase productivity of respective companies and organisations (Skarlatidou, et al 2013, p.1668). Performance dashboards normally help in translating corporate strategy into meaningful measurements and goals as it can specialise for each team and the working process. The managers normally log in to the dashboard and they can get clear picture of the strategic objectives and levels that they currently state at, and how terms achieving the goals of their business. Moreover, the performance dashboards normally improve strategies as they continue getting along (Tasos 2010, p.56). Instead of turning off the course in one direction or another, the industry events or the internal pressures can apply the performance dashboards in making different course corrections along the way. HCI Principle and Concerns The principle of usability ensures that Human computer interaction (HCI) is a discipline that concerns itself with implementation and evaluation of the interactive computing systems for human use and study of the major phenomena that surround them. Therefore, the reasons behind studying HCI in the process of development are to facilitate creation of interactive computer systems that are usable and practical (Webb 2013, p.89). HCI is relevant specifically to several stages in the development process including the design, implementation and finally evaluation of the interactive systems. The implementation of the HCI is an art and a science because it requires complete range of skills such as understanding of the user and appreciation of the software engineering capabilities as well as application of the appropriate graphical interfaces.HCI relates to designing computer systems that are safe, easy, efficient, enjoyable and functional. The HCI websites must have high percentage of usability in an attempt the users’ needs. According to (Winschiers, 2013, p.244), Usability is a quality attribute that examines the easiness and swiftness of interfaces. Moreover, usability refers to the methods of improving the ease of use in the process of design. The evaluation stage of methodology is usually an effective method through which software development can establish negative and positive aspects of the prototype system. The principle of usability highly depends on human psychology for software development programs. The specialists of HCI normally observe and talk with participants as they try to accomplish the true-to-life tasks on a given site or system. This normally allows them to form detailed picture of the sites as experienced by the users (Winschiers, 2013, p.244). Many questions have been raised within various sectors and by different scholars. One of these is that most of the designers strive hard to include visually dazzling features in the dashboards, thus failing to include necessary information that the user requires. It makes individuals using the application unable to understand information that appears on the screen (Dix, A., Finlay, J. E. and Abowd, G. D. 2006). The other concern is that there is no enough correspondence between the client and the framework. This implies that the client is not able to appreciate what is displayed in the framework or some of the time there is no enough data to clarify important information and data. This makes it troublesome for administrators to work with their frameworks and convey gold choices in their operations. Dashboards have been faulted for being not sufficiently enlightening for the clients. It ought to be noticed that this is not the issue of the dashboards, but instead of the fashioners or engineers (Fuchs, C., &Obrist, 2010).There is additionally a worry where originators have a tendency to include such a large number of advertisements screen consequently meddling with the clients work and focus. This is trying to make dashboards beautiful and intriguing to the clients. A few includes dark essential information or highlights which the client is obliging consequently influencing his information examination and transforming. From the viewpoint of the client, ease of use is an essential perspective utilized as a part of the improvement procedure and it can mean distinction between performing an errand precisely, totally and not performing by any means. On the off chance that convenience is not clear in the site outline, the clients will get to be baffled when working with the site or application. Exploration demonstrates that individuals will leave destinations and applications that are hard to utilize consequently the need to utilize basic applications. Ease of use standards HCI and if clients or other individuals utilizing the application won't think that, it simple to utilize they will refrain and consequently making human PC interface impossible .It is discriminating issue for websites in light of the fact that it enhances the focused position and client unwaveringness. Hence, convenience is one of the HCI standards that will keep the association solid, productive.HCI must also welcome client support, and it alludes to the parts that clients can play to aid in configuration and creating viable frameworks or sites. According to (Winschiers, 2013, p.246) participation in the (information system development) is the assignment of behaviors and activities that the users or representatives perform in the entire ISD process. It helps the designers to understand the specific behaviors and how many of the behaviors end up in performance. When the designers work hand in hand with the users, it is probable that they will produce quality product that will facilitate effective human computer interface (Pearson 2013, p.78).The third principle is the real interaction and it refers to the actual way through which the users will interact with sites. Real interaction tracks performance of the website visitors either through prototype stage or after initial implementation. Finally, Flexibility is the multiplicity of ways through which the user as well as the system can exchange information. Under the principle of flexibility, there is customizability, user control and substantiality. The flexibility aspect of HCI makes it interesting to an extent that users can effectively get information from thecomputers (Dix, Finlay and Abowd, 2006, pp. 260 – 273). How the HCI design principles and concerns affect the successful development of dashboards in systems to support management decision making The above principles and concerns have been instrumental in developing good dashboards that facilitates effective management decision making. The principle of usability makes it possible for all employees and stakeholders to have effective HCI and this increases productivity. Therefore, every employee contributes effectively towards projects, concerns and this helps the management to make informed decisions (Pearson 2013, p.67). Moreover, the interaction principle will encourage people to interact with software effectively in work and research. Therefore, the possible feedback that this people are likely to give will help the managers make informed decisions. When employees and workers interact with computer at ultimatum, they will have more information on their respective areas. The information will in turn improve efficiency and productivity in the company (Benbelkacem 2014, p.93).When HCI programs are easy to learn, people will develop motivation that will prompt them to work and this will in turn increase morale and productivity in the working environment. Moreover, robustness and flexibility play great role towards enhancing effectiveness in the company ultimately. In general, the HCI principles and concerns improve the welfare and applicability of the dashboards. The dashboards in turn facilitate effective management and decision-making hence flourishing the companies (Faiola 2007, p.43).Further, the principle of knowing the user skill and technical knowledge is helpful, as this will help designers to understand the kind of features they should include on the dashboards. The knowledge of user skills ensures that designers do not complicate the system thus affecting the decision making process of managers. Designers should ensure that they use easy features in order to make it possible for decision-making process to be done without much .This is critical since there is so much information that a manger might be handling on the same dashboard. Therefore knowing their level of technical knowledge is important before designers develops the system. The speed of the user should as well be noted on the same note as well as the security of the system. These basic principles are vital in service delivery in an organization. In the identification of tasks and functions to be carried out by the system or dashboard, a developer is able to match correct features on the same in order to have positive decision-making outcomes. For instance if the main objective of a dashboard is to monitor performance in the business, then a designer will be expected to include features that will assist a manager to control a, evaluate and monitor workers’ performance at various levels (Koutsabasis, P., &Vosinakis, 2012) The positive impact of a dashboard depends on the understanding of the functions of the system before producing the final product to the customer. This information should however be provided to the developer by the manger or the user in advance. Production of the best product by a designer also helps in maintaining a good relationship between the two parties. Conclusion Human computer interaction is a vital discipline that companies and organizations embraced to stimulate efficiency and productivity in the end. HCI and dashboards work in hand to ensure that productivity increases in any organization and especially in human resource and management.Application of the above principles has proved to be successful especially in management decision making. References Journals Benbelkacem, S., Belhocine, M., Zenati-Henda, N., Bellarbi, A. and Tadjine, M. (2013) ‘Integrating human–computer interaction and business practices for mixed reality systems design: a case study’, IET Software. doi: 10.1049/iet-sen.2012.0170. Koutsabasis, P., &Vosinakis, S. (2012). Rethinking HCI Education for Design: Problem-Based Learning and Virtual Worlds at an HCI Design Studio. International Journal Of Human- Computer Interaction, 28(8), 485-499. doi:10.1080/10447318.2012.687664. Rubinstein, I. S., & Good, N. (2013). PRIVACY BY DESIGN: A COUNTERFACTUAL ANALYSIS OF GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK PRIVACY INCIDENTS. Berkeley Technology Law Journal, 28(2), 1333-1413. Ryskina, K. L., Korenstein, D., Weissman, A., Masters, P., Alguire, P. and Smith, C. D. (2014) ‘Development of a High-Value Care Subscore on the Internal Medicine In-Training Examination’, Annals of Internal Medicine, 161(10). doi: 10.7326/m14-0444. Skarlatidou, A., Cheng, T. and Haklay, M. (2013) ‘Guidelines for trust interface design for public engagement Web GIS’, International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 27(8), pp. 1668–1687. doi: 10.1080/13658816.2013.766336. Winschiers-Theophilus, H. and Bidwell, N. J. (2013) ‘Toward an Afro-Centric Indigenous HCI Paradigm’, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 29(4), pp. 243–255. doi: 10.1080/10447318.2013.765763. Books Dix, A., Finlay, J. E. and Abowd, G. D. (2006) Human-computer interaction. 3rd edn. Harlow: Pearson Prentice-Hall. Tasos, S. (2010). Integrating Usability Engineering for Designing the Web Experience: Methodologies and Principles. 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(2007) ‘The Design Enterprise: Rethinking the HCI Education Paradigm’, Design Issues, 23(3), pp. 30–45. doi: 10.1162/desi.2007.23.3.30. http://anthonyfaiola.com/Publications/The_Design_Enterprise-Rethinking_the_HCI_Education_Paradigm.pdf Hochheiser, H., & Lazar, J. (2007). HCI and Societal Issues: A Framework for Engagement. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 23(3), 339-374. doi:10.1080/10447310701702717. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10447310701702717 Fuchs, C., &Obrist, M. (2010). HCI and Society: Towards a Typology of Universal Design Principles. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 26(6), 638-656. doi:10.1080/10447311003781334. http://fuchs.uti.at/wp-content/uploads/HCI_Society.pdf Read More