HCI Human-computer interaction is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for

human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them. (Source: ACM SIGCHI - Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group in Computer Human Interaction http://old.sigchi.org/cdg/cdg2.html). Interface A boundary across which two independent systems meet and act on or communicate with each other (Source: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/interface.html) Usability Usability is defined by 5 quality components: Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design? Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks? Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they reestablish proficiency? Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors? Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?

(Source: Jakob Nielsen: http://www.nngroup.com/articles/usability-101-introduction-to-usability/) IxD - Interaction design The design of interactive products to support the way people communicate and interact in their everyday and working lives. (Source: Rogers, Sharp & Preece (2011) Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer Interaction. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley. http://goo.gl/4QYox8) UI - User Interface The space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. (Source: Wikipedia - I know, but its a widely circulated and beautiful definition!) GUI - Graphical User Interface A program that allows a person to work easily with a computer by using a mouse to point to small pictures and other elements on the screen (Source: Merriam Webster online dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graphical%20user%20interface) - is this definition still valid, in your opinion? UX (User Experience) "User experience" encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with the company, its services, and its products. (Source: Jakob Nielsen http://www.nngroup.com/articles/definition-user-experience/) see also: http://www.uxisnotui.com/downloads/8x11.pdf