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What is human computer interaction equipment
Since the invention of the computer, human-computer interaction has been evolving continuously.
Although this evolution may seem slow compared to the rapid advancements in computer central processing units, each change in how humans interact with computers marks the beginning of a new era in computing. What are the key milestones in the development of human-computer interaction? What was the earliest form of human-computer interaction? With these questions in mind, let’s explore the history and evolution of human-computer interaction.
What is human-computer interaction?
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) refers to the process of information exchange between humans and computers using a specific dialogue language and interaction method to accomplish a defined task.
Currently, most of us still use the traditional keyboard and mouse/touchpad combination for interaction. The emergence of the mouse and keyboard was not random. Let us begin by discussing the earliest forms of human-computer interaction.
The Jenny Spinning Machine: The Beginning of Human-Computer Interaction
In 1764, British textile worker James Hargreaves accidentally knocked over his wife’s spinning machine, sparking an idea that led him to design the Jenny Spinning Machine, which improved spinning efficiency. The Jenny Spinning Machine marked the beginning of the First Industrial Revolution and the origin of systematic exploration into human-machine interaction.
With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, humans began to systematically consider the relationship between humans and machines, and machines truly entered the historical stage. By the time of Charlie Chaplin’s era, the release of Modern Times indicated that humans had begun to reflect on the social issues brought about by machines. Behind these reflections, advancements in human-machine interaction continued unabated, with the emergence of assembly lines representing humanity’s efforts to improve interaction with machines. We can see that human-machine interaction began unconsciously.
After the 20th century, as machines became increasingly integrated into people’s lives, human-machine interaction issues were no longer confined to factories. Research into individual-machine interaction became a top priority, with the emergence of the typewriter laying the foundation for the modern keyboard.
The birth of the modern keyboard is highly symbolic. The original keyboard was arranged in alphabetical order (ABCD). However, since typewriters were fully mechanical devices, rapid typing could cause certain key combinations to jam. To address this, Christopher Latham Sholes invented the QWERTY keyboard layout, which was retained in subsequent developments and eventually evolved into the modern keyboard.
However, a keyboard alone was insufficient. With the advancement of information technology, the data humans needed to process was no longer limited to text. A more intuitive and convenient interaction method was urgently needed. This was the backdrop against which the mouse was invented. The mouse first allowed people to experience the charm of free interaction. Users could click anywhere on the screen, which significantly improved user experience and efficiency in complex data processing.
The emergence of handheld computing devices ushered in a new era of interaction. While keyboards and mice sustained computer development for over 30 years, they have become inadequate in the face of the mobile internet trend. The rapid adoption of products like smartphones, tablets, and personal PCs has accelerated the transformation of human-computer interaction.
For interaction methods like touchscreens, the essence remains the same as traditional mouse input and display output—it’s just a different form. Users still need to consciously input precise commands to receive feedback from the device.
Innovative and Exciting: New Frontiers in Human-Computer Interaction
By examining the simple history of human-computer interaction, we can see that communication between humans and machines initially took place in factories. Today, research into human-computer interaction is no longer solely focused on improving work efficiency. Communication between humans and machines is beginning to show signs of becoming two-way. Let us now explore some innovative human-computer interaction methods.
Apple Siri: Personal Assistant
Siri has transcended the realm of voice recognition software. It can understand the meaning of natural language through context. Users can command it to read text messages, ask about the weather, and set alarms via voice commands. What’s more, once you start a conversation with Siri, it can even understand many ambiguous and implied meanings.
Google: Google Glass
Google Glass is a wearable device with a head-mounted optical display, offering functions similar to a smartphone. Users interact with it through voice commands, gestures, and motion sensing.
The goal of the “Project Glass” initiative is to replace smartphone or tablet screens with the display on the glasses and enable users to interact with internet applications using natural language.
Intel: RealSense Technology
Intel’s RealSense technology is not just a concept—it has already been applied in products such as Dell’s Venue 8 7000 tablet. RealSense uses cameras to mimic human vision, enabling devices to perceive the size and distance of objects. Additionally, using multiple camera arrays, RealSense can recreate a complete and realistic three-dimensional world.
HP: Projection Keyboard – HP Sprout
For devices like tablets, carrying a keyboard around can be a hassle. HP has introduced a new way to input text using projection technology—the projection keyboard. Similar to RealSense, HP Sprout uses cameras as its core component to detect user interactions with the projected keyboard and determine the characters being entered.
Leap Motion
Leap Motion is essentially an upward-facing sensor that allows users to control programs and play games by moving their hands within a virtual space. Additionally, Leap Motion can visualize the user’s hand movements in skeletal form and display them on the screen in fluorescent colors.
In the field of human-computer interaction technology, although there have been many attempts at new interaction methods, such as motion sensing and biometric recognition, most of these methods have not achieved widespread adoption or entered large-scale commercial use. Furthermore, no human-computer interaction method has yet reached the level where humans can communicate with machines seamlessly and effortlessly.
Future Development Direction: Interaction Without Interaction
With the rise of wearable devices, smart homes, and the Internet of Things in the tech industry, creating a fully intelligent lifestyle has become the next focus, and human-machine interaction methods will gradually become a key component in achieving this lifestyle. To understand what future interaction methods might look like, we may find inspiration in science fiction works.
Evolving Simple Interaction and Service Methods
In the film Iron Man 3, Iron Man’s holographic display left a deep impression on viewers. By simply tossing a device, all data was presented in holographic form—a technology that is both futuristic and cutting-edge. Compared to our current touchscreens, its presentation can be described as “stunning.”
In the future, interaction methods will become increasingly simple, and service methods will also evolve. From an interaction perspective, touchscreens are merely the initial stage; in the future, body recognition will be the next step.
Personalized Biometric Recognition
In the future, the use of passwords will decrease, replaced by biometric recognition—such as fingerprints, retinas, heart rates, or even DNA—to authenticate unique individual characteristics.
Currently, many smartphones can be unlocked via fingerprint recognition, where the system scans your fingerprint, and if it matches, the screen lights up. We are already moving toward personalized biometric recognition, and in the future, such technology may permeate every aspect of our lives.
Future devices will be able to comprehensively sense users’ needs and even anticipate their potential desires. When you feel cold, hot, thirsty, or tired, simply think about it, and the smart products around you will sense your needs and respond accordingly.
In Conclusion
Human-computer interaction has come a long way, evolving from unconscious improvements to systematic consideration of its significance. The editor believes that the evolution of human-computer interaction will follow two main directions: first, interaction methods will become increasingly simple; second, interaction will evolve from mechanical external interfaces to emotional communication. All specific operational devices will naturally integrate into the broader information infrastructure, replaced by various sensors of all shapes and sizes, as well as cloud computing platforms that integrate artificial intelligence and big data. These platforms will become increasingly intelligent, empathetic, and capable of providing a steady stream of information to the human-machine interaction system in real time.
