Vocabulary Words Every Human-Computer Interaction Designer Should Know

Design

Definition: A plan or drawing for something.

• He made a beautiful design for the dress.
• The building has a modern design.
• She loves to design clothes.

Design in a sentence

User

Definition: A person who uses a product or service.

• The app has many users.
• Every user must create an account.
• They conducted a survey for the app users.

User in a sentence

Interface

Definition: The point where two systems meet and interact; a user-friendly design for software.

• The interface of the app is easy to use.
• He learned how to design a user interface.
• The new interface makes navigation simple.

Interface in a sentence

Click

Definition: To press a button on a computer mouse or device.

• Please click the link to open the website.
• I heard the click when I closed the door.
• You can click on the image to see it bigger.

Click in a sentence

Screen

Definition: A flat surface for displaying images or information; to show something.

• The movie will be shown on the big screen.
• He looked at the screen to see his grades.
• She will screen the video during the presentation.

Screen in a sentence

Button

Definition: A small round object used to fasten clothing or as a control on devices.

• He pressed the button to start the machine.
• She sewed a button onto her coat.
• The remote has a button for changing the channels.

Button in a sentence

Menu

Definition: A list of food and drink items available in a restaurant.

• I looked at the menu to decide what to order.
• The restaurant has a special menu for holidays.
• She chose a salad from the menu.

Menu in a sentence

Help

Definition: To assist someone with something.

• Can you help me with my homework?
• She helped her mother in the kitchen.
• He always helps his friends.

Help in a sentence

Tool

Definition: An instrument or device used to perform a task.

• A hammer is a useful tool for building.
• I need a tool to fix my bike.
• He used a tool to cut the wood.

Tool in a sentence

Feedback

Definition: Information or comments about someone's performance or work.

• The teacher gave feedback on my essay.
• He appreciated the feedback from his peers.
• Constructive feedback helps improve skills.

Feedback in a sentence

Simple

Definition: Easily understood; not complicated.

• The instructions were simple and clear.
• She prefers simple designs in her artwork.
• He likes simple meals that are quick to prepare.

Simple in a sentence

Easy

Definition: Not difficult; simple to do or understand.

• The math problem was easy for him to solve.
• She found the test to be easy and finished quickly.
• Understanding easy concepts helps build confidence in learning.

Easy in a sentence

Use

Definition: To employ something for a purpose.

• I use a pencil to write.
• They will use the computer for research.
• She knows how to use the new software.

Use in a sentence

Test

Definition: A method of assessing knowledge or skills; an examination.

• She studied hard for the math test next week.
• He passed the driving test on his first try.
• The teacher gave a pop quiz as a test of understanding.

Test in a sentence

Color

Definition: A property of objects that results from the way they reflect light; a visual perception.

• Her favorite color is blue.
• The drawing has many bright colors.
• He likes to color pictures in his art book.

Color in a sentence

Shape

Definition: The external form or appearance of an object, often defined by its outline.

• The shape of the cookie was round and flat.
• She drew a square shape on the paper.
• Understanding shape is important in geometry.

Shape in a sentence

Style

Definition: A way of doing something, especially in art or fashion.

• She has a unique style of dressing.
• His writing style is very simple.
• The house was built in a modern style.

Style in a sentence

Page

Definition: One side of a sheet of paper in a book or document.

• She turned the page to read the next chapter.
• The page was filled with colorful illustrations.
• Understanding page layout is important for design.

Page in a sentence

Link

Definition: A connection between two things; can be a website address.

• You can find the link to the article in the email.
• She clicked on the link to open the website.
• There is a link between exercise and health.

Link in a sentence

Text

Definition: Written words; a message sent electronically.

• Please read the text on the page.
• I will text you later with the details.
• He sent a text to his friend.

Text in a sentence

Computer

Definition: An electronic device used for processing information.

• I use my computer for homework.
• The computer helps us find information online.
• She enjoys playing games on her computer.

Computer in a sentence

Image

Definition: A visual representation of something.

• I created an image for my project.
• The image shows a beautiful landscape.
• He likes to take an image of every moment.

Image in a sentence

Layout

Definition: The way in which something is arranged or organized.

• The layout of the classroom makes it easy to see the board.
• He designed the layout for the new park.
• The website has a clean layout that is easy to navigate.

Layout in a sentence

Task

Definition: A piece of work to be done; a duty or job.

• I have a task to complete for school.
• She finished her task before the deadline.
• They assigned a task to each group member.

Task in a sentence

Access

Definition: The ability to enter or use something; to gain entry.

• Students have access to the library after school.
• She needs access to the internet for her research.
• They provide access to resources for learning.

Access in a sentence

Data

Definition: Information collected for analysis.

• The data shows an increase in sales.
• We need to analyze the data carefully.
• His research includes a lot of data.

Data in a sentence

Usability

Definition: The ease of use and effectiveness of a product or system.

• The app was designed with usability in mind.
• Usability testing helps improve user experience.
• He focuses on usability in his web design projects.

Usability in a sentence

Prototype

Definition: An early model or version of something used for testing.

• They created a prototype for the new toy.
• The prototype helped them improve the design.
• She is working on a prototype for the app.

Prototype in a sentence

Interaction

Definition: The act of communicating or working together with others.

• Their interaction during the project was productive.
• She enjoys the interaction with her classmates.
• Positive interaction fosters a good learning environment.

Interaction in a sentence

Navigation

Definition: The act of determining one's position and planning a route.

• The navigation system helped us find our way.
• Good navigation skills are important for sailors.
• She used a map for navigation during the hike.

Navigation in a sentence

Accessibility

Definition: The quality of being easy to reach or use.

• The website improved its accessibility for all users.
• Accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities.
• They focused on accessibility in their new building design.

Accessibility in a sentence

Efficiency

Definition: The ability to do something with minimum waste of time and resources.

• They improved the efficiency of their study habits.
• Efficiency is key in completing tasks quickly.
• She values efficiency in her daily routine.

Efficiency in a sentence

Experience

Definition: Knowledge or skill gained through doing something.

• I gained a lot of experience from my summer job.
• Her experience in cooking helps her make delicious meals.
• Traveling gives you the experience of different cultures.

Experience in a sentence

Research

Definition: A careful study to learn more about something.

• We need to do research for our project.
• Her research on animals was fascinating.
• He enjoys research in science.

Research in a sentence

Function

Definition: The purpose or role that something serves.

• The function of a light bulb is to provide light.
• What is the function of this button?
• The main function of the app is to help with studying.

Function in a sentence

Feature

Definition: A distinctive attribute or aspect of something.

• The new phone has a great camera feature.
• One feature of the park is its beautiful lake.
• Understanding features helps in product comparisons.

Feature in a sentence

Guideline

Definition: A rule or instruction that helps people make decisions.

• The teacher provided guidelines for the project.
• Follow the guideline to stay safe.
• They created a guideline for studying effectively.

Guideline in a sentence

Error

Definition: A mistake or inaccuracy.

• I made an error on my math test.
• He found an error in the report and fixed it.
• It's okay to make an error; we learn from them.

Error in a sentence

Solution

Definition: An answer to a problem.

• We need to find a solution to this issue.
• The teacher provided a solution to the math problem.
• There are many solutions to environmental challenges.

Solution in a sentence

Functionality

Definition: The range of functions or capabilities of a device or application.

• The new phone has improved functionality compared to the old model.
• Her app's functionality makes it easy to use.
• Understanding functionality is important for users.

Functionality in a sentence

User Experience

Definition: The overall experience a person has while using a product or service.

• Good user experience is important for apps.
• They focus on user experience to keep customers happy.
• Her goal is to improve the user experience on the website.

Performance

Definition: The act of doing something, especially in front of an audience; how well someone does a task.

• The performance of the students was impressive.
• He practiced daily for his music performance.
• Her performance in the play earned her applause.

Performance in a sentence

Consistency

Definition: The quality of being steady and uniform; harmony of parts.

• She valued consistency in her study habits.
• The cake should have a smooth consistency before baking.
• Consistency in practice leads to improvement.

Consistency in a sentence

Aesthetics

Definition: The principles of beauty and artistic taste.

• The aesthetics of the room were very modern.
• She has a keen sense of aesthetics in her work.
• Good aesthetics can enhance any design project.

Aesthetics in a sentence

Heuristic

Definition: A problem-solving approach that uses practical methods or shortcuts.

• He used a heuristic method to find a solution quickly.
• Heuristic strategies can help in decision-making.
• Understanding heuristics can improve critical thinking.

Heuristic in a sentence

Evaluation

Definition: The process of assessing or judging something.

• The teacher will conduct an evaluation of the project.
• She received an evaluation on her performance.
• An evaluation helps improve future work.

Evaluation in a sentence

Persona

Definition: The aspect of someone's character that is presented to or perceived by others.

• She created a friendly persona to connect with her audience.
• His public persona is very different from his private self.
• Understanding your persona can help in social situations.

Persona in a sentence

Scenario

Definition: A situation or sequence of events that might happen; a possible outcome.

• In this scenario, we would need to find a quick solution.
• The teacher presented a scenario for us to discuss.
• Understanding different scenarios helps with planning.

Scenario in a sentence

Affordance

Definition: The possibility of an action based on an object's properties.

• The affordance of the handle allows for easy opening.
• Understanding affordance is key in design.
• The affordance of the chair suggests it is comfortable.

Heuristics

Definition: Mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that simplify decision-making processes.

• Heuristics help people make quick and efficient choices.
• She learned about heuristics in her psychology class.
• Understanding heuristics can improve problem-solving skills.

Heuristics in a sentence

Prototyping

Definition: the process of creating a preliminary model of a product

• Prototyping helps test ideas before full production.
• They used prototyping to develop their new app.
• Understanding prototyping is key in product development.

Prototyping in a sentence

Ergonomics

Definition: The study of people's efficiency in their working environment.

• Ergonomics helps design comfortable workspaces.
• She learned about ergonomics to improve her desk setup.
• Proper ergonomics can prevent injuries at work.

Ergonomics in a sentence

Visualization

Definition: The act of creating images or diagrams in the mind or on paper to understand information better.

• Visualization helps in understanding complex concepts.
• She used visualization techniques to prepare for her presentation.
• The teacher encouraged students to use visualization for math problems.

Visualization in a sentence

Empathy

Definition: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

• She showed empathy toward her friend's situation.
• Empathy is important for building strong relationships.
• He learned about empathy in his social studies class.

Empathy in a sentence

Contextual

Definition: Related to the context or situation.

• Understanding contextual clues helps with comprehension.
• The teacher provided contextual examples for the lesson.
• She wrote a contextual analysis of the story.

Contextual in a sentence

Iteration

Definition: A version or repetition of a process or product; a cycle of improvements.

• The first iteration of the app had many bugs.
• Each iteration brought new features and fixes.
• They completed several iterations before the final release.

Iteration in a sentence

Wireframe

Definition: a basic layout of a website or application

• The wireframe shows where elements will be placed.
• She created a wireframe before designing the app.
• A wireframe helps visualize the project structure.

Information Architecture

Definition: The organization and structure of information in digital spaces.

• Good information architecture improves user experience on websites.
• She learned about information architecture in her design class.
• Understanding information architecture is crucial for web development.

Task Analysis

Definition: The process of breaking down a task into smaller, manageable parts.

• Task analysis is important for understanding complex tasks.
• He performed a task analysis for the new project.
• They discussed task analysis in their training session.

Task Analysis in a sentence

Scalability

Definition: The ability of a system to handle growth or increased demand.

• The software has great scalability for future users.
• Scalability is important for business growth.
• They are looking for solutions to improve scalability.

Scalability in a sentence

Usability Testing

Definition: Evaluating a product or service by testing it with real users.

• Usability testing helps identify issues before launch.
• They conducted usability testing to improve the website.
• Understanding usability testing is important for product design.

Engagement

Definition: An agreement to get married; involvement in an activity.

• Their engagement was announced last week.
• She has a strong engagement in her studies.
• The engagement party was a lot of fun.

Engagement in a sentence

Cognitive Load

Definition: the amount of mental effort used in learning

• High cognitive load can make studying difficult.
• She managed her cognitive load by breaking tasks into smaller parts.
• Understanding cognitive load helps improve study habits.

User-centered

Definition: Designed with the needs and preferences of users in mind.

• A user-centered approach improves overall satisfaction.
• He focused on user-centered design principles in his project.
• User-centered methods lead to better products.

Immersion

Definition: The act of being completely involved in a particular activity or environment.

• Language immersion helps students learn faster.
• She experienced immersion in the culture during her travels.
• Understanding immersion enhances learning experiences.

Immersion in a sentence

Personas

Definition: Plural of persona; different characters or identities presented by individuals.

• Writers often create personas to enhance their storytelling.
• He adopted different personas for his performances.
• Understanding personas can help in marketing strategies.

Scenarios

Definition: Possible situations or events that could occur.

• They discussed different scenarios for the project.
• The book is filled with various scenarios to explore.
• He enjoyed writing scenarios for the role-playing game.

Iterative

Definition: Involving repetition; characterized by a series of steps.

• The iterative process helps improve the final product.
• They adopted an iterative approach to design.
• Iterative methods are common in software development.

Iterative in a sentence

Design Thinking

Definition: A problem-solving approach that emphasizes understanding users' needs and brainstorming innovative solutions.

• Design thinking encourages creativity and collaboration.
• She applied design thinking to develop a new product.
• Understanding design thinking helps in effective innovation.

Visual Hierarchy

Definition: The arrangement of elements to show importance.

• Visual hierarchy helps guide viewers' attention.
• She used visual hierarchy in her poster design.
• Good visual hierarchy makes information easier to understand.

User Journey

Definition: The complete experience a user has when interacting with a product, from start to finish.

• Mapping the user journey helped identify pain points.
• She visualized the user journey to improve the app.
• Understanding the user journey is essential for design.

A/B Testing

Definition: comparing two versions to see which is better

• They used A/B testing to improve their website.
• A/B testing helps businesses make decisions.
• We learned about A/B testing in our marketing class.

Stakeholder

Definition: A person or group with an interest in a project or decision.

• The company considers all stakeholders in its decisions.
• Parents are important stakeholders in education.
• They invited stakeholders to discuss the new plan.

Stakeholder in a sentence

Qualitative

Definition: Related to descriptions or characteristics rather than numbers.

• Qualitative research focuses on opinions and experiences.
• She conducted a qualitative study on student behavior.
• Qualitative data can provide deep insights.

Qualitative in a sentence

Quantitative

Definition: Related to measuring or counting; involves numbers.

• Quantitative data is important for statistical analysis.
• She conducted a quantitative study on student performance.
• Quantitative research helps to gather measurable results.

Quantitative in a sentence

Synthesis

Definition: The combination of different ideas or elements to form a new whole.

• Synthesis of information is important in writing essays.
• The synthesis of various sources improved her research.
• He focused on the synthesis of art and science in his project.

Synthesis in a sentence

Affordances

Definition: The potential actions that objects allow.

• Different toys have various affordances for play.
• The affordances of the playground encourage creativity.
• Recognizing affordances enhances learning experiences.

Contextual Inquiry

Definition: A method of gathering information by observing and interviewing users in their environment.

• They conducted a contextual inquiry to gather insights.
• Contextual inquiry helps improve product design.
• She participated in a contextual inquiry for her project.

Interaction Design

Definition: The creation of engaging interfaces for users to interact with technology.

• Interaction design focuses on user experience and usability.
• She studied interaction design for her tech project.
• Understanding interaction design is important for software development.

Ethnography

Definition: The study of cultures and communities through observation and interaction.

• Ethnography helps us understand different ways of life.
• The ethnography project involved living with a local community.
• He wrote an ethnography about traditional farming practices.

Ethnography in a sentence

Fidelity

Definition: Faithfulness or loyalty to a person, cause, or belief.

• He showed great fidelity to his friends.
• Fidelity in relationships is very important.
• Understanding fidelity can strengthen bonds.

Fidelity in a sentence

Paradigms

Definition: Plural of paradigm; models or patterns used for understanding.

• Different scientific paradigms can lead to various conclusions.
• The teacher discussed several paradigms in physics.
• They explored cultural paradigms in their history class.

Constraints

Definition: Rules or limitations that affect actions or decisions.

• They worked within the constraints of the project budget.
• Understanding constraints is essential for effective problem-solving.
• The constraints of the task challenged the team.

Paradigmatic

Definition: Serving as a typical example or pattern; representative.

• His behavior is paradigmatic of a strong leader.
• The study provided a paradigmatic case for analysis.
• She presented a paradigmatic model in her presentation.

Paradigmatic in a sentence

Taxonomy

Definition: The science of classifying living organisms into groups.

• Taxonomy helps scientists organize different species.
• She studied taxonomy to better understand plants and animals.
• The taxonomy of animals is essential for biodiversity research.

Taxonomy in a sentence

Responsiveness

Definition: The quality of reacting quickly or positively.

• The responsiveness of the service impressed customers.
• They measured the responsiveness of the website.
• Her responsiveness to feedback improved the project.

Responsiveness in a sentence

Workflow

Definition: The sequence of processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.

• Understanding workflow helps improve productivity.
• She designed a new workflow for the project team.
• Effective workflow management can streamline operations.

Workflow in a sentence

Validation

Definition: the act of confirming or supporting something

• Validation of the results is crucial for the research.
• She received validation from her peers for her project.
• The process requires validation to ensure accuracy.

Validation in a sentence

Facilitation

Definition: The act of making a process easier.

• Facilitation helps groups reach decisions.
• She took a course in meeting facilitation.
• Good facilitation leads to productive discussions.

Facilitation in a sentence

Design Principles

Definition: Fundamental guidelines that influence design decisions.

• Understanding design principles is crucial for creating effective layouts.
• She studied design principles in her art class.
• Good design principles lead to user-friendly products.

Artifacts

Definition: objects made by humans in history

• The museum displayed ancient artifacts.
• They found artifacts during the excavation.
• The artifacts tell us about past civilizations.

Stakeholder Engagement

Definition: The process of involving individuals or groups who have an interest in a project.

• Stakeholder engagement helps ensure project success.
• They held meetings for stakeholder engagement to gather input.
• Effective stakeholder engagement builds strong relationships.

Task Flow

Definition: The sequence of steps to complete a task effectively.

• Understanding task flow is crucial for productivity.
• They created a diagram to illustrate the task flow.
• She improved the task flow to reduce delays.

Cognitive Mapping

Definition: A visual representation of knowledge or information in the mind.

• Cognitive mapping helps organize thoughts and ideas.
• He created a cognitive map to study for his exam.
• Understanding cognitive mapping enhances learning techniques.

Mental Model

Definition: A framework or concept that helps individuals understand and interpret the world.

• He developed a mental model for solving problems.
• Mental models can guide decision-making processes.
• She used a mental model to analyze the situation.

User Research

Definition: The process of gathering information about users to understand their needs and behaviors.

• User research is essential for effective product design.
• She conducted user research to inform the development process.
• Understanding user research helps create better experiences.

Contextual Design

Definition: A design approach that considers the user’s context and environment.

• They used contextual design to improve usability.
• Contextual design focuses on real-world applications.
• She learned about contextual design in her course.

Touchpoints

Definition: Multiple points of contact or interaction between customers and a company.

• They identified key touchpoints in the customer journey.
• Touchpoints can include websites, social media, and stores.
• Understanding touchpoints helps enhance customer experience.

Empathy Mapping

Definition: The process of creating an empathy map to explore user experiences.

• Empathy mapping is useful in product development.
• She facilitated empathy mapping sessions to gather insights.
• Understanding empathy mapping is key in design thinking.

User Interface.

Definition: A repeat of the previous entry; see "user interface."

• A well-designed user interface enhances user experience.
• She focused on simplifying the user interface for clarity.
• The user interface must be intuitive for all users.