Visual Communication in CMC

Visual Communication in CMC

As technology grows and expands, many tools have invaded the computerized world that enhance communication skills. One of these tools is that of visual aid. As the world wide web has evolved to include most of it visual material, researchers have focused on studying and improving this particular area and its effects.

HCI

HCI – Human Computer Interaction is the area of study that focuses on how people, and in expand users, interact with computers. (Definition of Human-Computer Interaction, by Hewett, Baecker, et al available at: http://sigchi.org/cdg/cdg2.html#2_ 1, accessed on 03/03/08) This area of expertise includes other sciences, like computing, behavioral and psychological, design, etc. By the word interaction we mean how users manipulate both hardware and software of a computer or its peripherals. (Conference on Human factors in computing systems, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 22-27/04/2006, available at: http://www.chi2006.org/bestofchi.php, accessed on 03/03/08) HCI focuses on developing techniques and methodologies that aid in designing the most suitable interfaces for particular groups of people, producing formulas for evaluating and matching existing interfaces or even creating new innovating user interfaces. (“The future of human-computer interaction”, by John Canny University of California, Berkeley, 2006 p.32-38)In other words, HCI focuses on creating interfaces so simple, that even the most novice user can use without having any problems. Imagine a world where people with visual impairments could have a chance to use any interface possible. This doesn’t mean necessarily a computer, but varies from a mobile phone to the complicated cockpit of an airplane. (“Concept design for a low cost cockpit display”, available at http://www.disti.com/Company/Publications/CrossTalk_June2007.pdf, accessed on 03/03/08”)

New technologies – New ways of reading

As the world wide web started expanding and talking a specific form, it tended towards being a visual place for all its visitors. Gradually, the technologies that encompassed melted with the previous ones, creating new hybrids, same as it happens with technology generally. As the telephone gave its place to mobile telephony and infused with the idea of television, giving way to video calls and video conferencing, the same thing happened to the WWW, allowing it to take the shape it has nowadays: (“Mixing old technologies with new”, by Bertram Bruce, University of Illinois, US, available at: http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/jaal/Oct_Column.html, accessed on 03/03/08) A visual web, enhanced with sound, images, emoticons and etc. The first GUI was designed at Xerox PARC for the Apple Macintosh back in the 80’s. It resembled the environment of Windows pretty much as we know it nowadays, including folders for the directories, pieces of papers for the document files, drop down menus and a mouse pointer that moved freely on the screen. (“A History of the GUI”, by Jeremy Reimer, Published on May 05/05/2005, available at: http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/gui.ars/3, accessed on 03/03/08) This graphical environment evolved to the Windows as we know it today based on a series of methodologies and set of rules concerning usability and accessibility. These is a separate research field that is concerned with such issues today, that examines how the human brain works, how it reacts and in response how GUIs should be designed to maximize their effects. (“A brief History of GUI” by pRCarter, 2005, available at: http://cognitivevent.com/gui_history.html, accessed on 03/03/08)

Usability, Visibility, Accessibility

Usability is the measure of how a computerized product, either this being hardware or software, is easy to use and matches the needs of the people that use it. It is concerned with the quality of the product, its efficiency and effectiveness. (“About Usability”, available at: http://www.usabilityprofessionals.org/usability_resources/about usability/, accessed on 03/03/08) It is widely accepted that graphics are used almost on any page of the WWW. When graphics are properly used, (color, images, animation, video, audio and their positions) can increase greatly the usability of a web page. (US Department of Health and Human Services, available at: http://www.usability.gov/pdfs/chapter14.pdf, accessed on 03/03/08) Accessibility is the research field that is concerned with how web pages should be constructed in order to be used by people with disabilities. Since the world wide web has become the most important tool of gathering knowledge nowadays it is fairly important that it should be constructed in such ways that it can provide its usefulness to people with disabilities too. Unfortunately, it is estimated by the World Wide Web Consortium (2001) that more of 90 percent of all websites are inaccessible to persons with disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, and cognitive disabilities. (“Introduction to Web Accessibility” available at: http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/accessibility.php, accessed on 03/03/08) Most of the bigger companies and organizations have constructed their web sites in certain ways to allow accessibility, but unfortunately this isn’t enough yet. In an era when information and knowledge is shared on the WWW, it is still prohibited to people with certain disabilities unfortunately.




References:


1. (“Definition of Human-Computer Interaction”, by Hewett, Baecker, Card, Carey, Gasen, Mantei, Perlman, Strong and Verplank, available at: http://sigchi.org/cdg/cdg2.html#2_1, accessed on 03/03/08)

2. (Conference on Human factors in computing systems, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 22-27/04/2006, available at: http://www.chi2006.org/bestofchi.php, accessed on 03/03/08)

3. (“The future of human-computer interaction”, by John Canny University of California, Berkeley,2006 p.32-38)

4 (“GL Studio Brings Realism to Aircraft Cockpit Simulator Displays
”,by Stults Kim, available at http://www.disti.com/Company/Publications/CrossTalk_June2007.pdf, accessed on 03/03/08”)

5. (“Mixing old technologies with new”, by Bertram Bruce, University of Illinois, US, available at: http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/jaal/Oct_Column.html, accessec on 03/03/08)

6.( “A History of the GUI”, by Jeremy Reimer, Published on May 05/05/2005, available at: http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/gui.ars/3, accessed on 03/03/08)

7.( “A brief History of GUI” by pRCarter, 2005, available at: http://cognitivevent.com/gui_history.html, accessed on 03/03/08)

8. (“About Usability”, available at: http://www.usabilityprofessionals.org/usability_resources/about_usability/, accessed on 03/03/08)

9. (US Department of Health and Human Services, available at: http://www.usability.gov/pdfs/chapter14.pdf, accessed on 03/03/08)

10. (“Introduction to Web Accessibility” available at: http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/accessibility.php, accessed on 03/03/08)