How People Use Computers
Laptops
Laptops have allowed activities on computer systems to take place while the user is mobile, such as on an aeroplane or outside where there are no desktop computers. Due to this portability they increase the possibility of communication wherever the user might be, with Wi-Fi and satellite internet connections, through software such as Skype (VOIP) and Facebook (social networking). This has an impact on culture in a number of ways. It allows news and opinions that would not otherwise be displayed to some cultures to reach those people and as a result possible change the culture in which they live, as well as allowing freedom of communication between different cultures and societies with language translators installed on laptops allowing people to communicate with different cultures, and maybe change their culture because of this.
Games
Video games are a form of electronic entertainment involving the user to input data and information such as where to move and receives in return an entertaining output such as the controlled object moving around the screen on a computer. Games have not allow affected the existing cultures by creating new ways of communication of socialising within that culture group but have created an entirely new culture based around playing games. This culture has become widely adopted by many people due to its promotion of social entertainment, team building and competitiveness. Games also allow communication between different cultures through the internet. This means people from different cultures that may not be aware of each other are now able to communicate through this medium to express and engage their cultural ideas and methodology.
Domestic Appliances
HCI and domestic appliances have developed with the need of people being able to communicate with them more effectively. They have become more practical and developed new features because of this such as being able to change the wattage of use if the user wants to cook something normally or defrost it, in a microwave. Another example is timers being incorporated into ovens so they can heat the contents for the desired time without the need of supervision from the user. This has reduced the human interaction time needed in complete the task such as cooking food, helping communities to carry out other more important tasks in their culture. It also makes it easier for culture practices to be passed down through generations, for example if a culinary dish is of great importance to the culture, people will be able to create easier with the aids now installed in the domestic appliances.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
De-skilling is the creation of automated systems to carry out laborious tasks which would otherwise be performed by humans, or the creation of automated systems to break down complex jobs into simpler jobs that require less specialised knowledge to be able to complete and therefore a less educated and trained workforce, which is also ultimately cheaper, is needed for the job in hand. This affects cultures in many ways. For cultures that do not rely on technology for the majority of their tasks this may create a big change in the culture’s practices. For example in historic times before technology was so prevalent it was traditional for the females of the group of people to collect the water from its source and transport it back to their homes. With water pumps and piping being installed the females were no longer needed to carry out this task and would have had to find new ways to occupy themselves, changing the culture in which those people live in. In modern times this is on a much larger scale. Such de-skilling work that has been done has also affected culture by giving the people the sense that manufactured items are not of as much value and importance as they once were when crafted by hand, and has made many things disposable to most people, such as de-skilling in the production of nappies, which were once washed and reused.
Developing nations’ cultures are constantly adapting to the introduction and use of new HCIs as they develop. Working life and the quality of life becomes better for these culture groups, as HCI helps them carry out certain tasks. For example farming is a laborious task with no machinery, requiring lots of workers and hard work to produce a successful harvest. However with the introduction of tractors and combine harvesters the quantity and quality of the produce can be much better controlled without the need of such hard work from so many workers. This also impacts cultures as these now unemployed people may decide to pursue other industries not currently used by their culture group.
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How well does it fulfil the requirements of describing the impact of HCI on society, culture and the economy?
ReplyDeleteThis blog fulfils all the requirements of the descriptions of HCI on society, culture and economy. Each topic is explained in detail.
Is the text size sufficiently large to be read easily by the visually impaired and how does it stand out against the background?
The text is of contrasting colour to the background to make it stand out from the background well and all the text is large enough that the visually impaired would be able to read it. It meets the specification to a high standard.
What colour is the text and how does it work with the background colour?
The text is in black, with bold hyperlinks against a white background, which is surrounded by a main black background. This makes the text bodies stand out in the blog and the text easily readable.
Describe the background – is it an image or plain colour?
It is an image, making the blog more aesthetically pleasing, mainly made up of black to not distract the reader too much from the main points of the blog, the content.
Is it suitable for the web page/blog?
It relates to the content of the blog because it shows a design using the principles of human computer interaction to make the blog more readable.
Comment on whether the colours work for colour blind users and also for the visually impaired.
The colours do not merge and would not affect colour blind people, making the blog accessible to them. Since white is a rare colour blindness and is the only affected group with these chosen colours the colours are the best suited to facilitate blind users reading the blog.
Describe the images used.
There are only a few images used which keeps the reader concentrated on the text. The images aid to visually show the ideas being explained.
Are they appropriate, well laid out on the page?
They are in the relevant area next to the content they relate to. They fit the design of the blog well.
Are they large enough for visually impaired users?
They are large enough so they can be easily seen by the visually impaired but they are small enough to stay on one page as a web picture.
Comment on what works well for the blog and what doesn’t work or that could be improved on the blog/web page.
More images could be placed to engage users with different learning styles better, as well as giving the visually impaired something easier to see.
Is it easy to navigate and how is this done?
It’s all on one page and it is easy to navigate. There are links on the side so I can easily change to the content I want.
Overall is the web page suitable for a wider audience?
It is suitable for most audiences. Although large text is used for the visually impaired the information and design will appeal to a lot of people. Young people may struggle as the context is quite complex.