The Impact of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) in Recent Years

What is HCI?

Human Computer Interaction is the study, planning, and design of what happens when you and a computer work together. As its name implies, HCI consists of three parts: the user, the computer itself, and the ways they work together.

The Impact of Security on Society

Security has had a big impact on society, as it has made many drastic improvements to the way security has changed and improved so much. From the early nineteenth century to now security has become more advanced and it has made it easier for the police to track down unwanted users or thieves. The changes that have taken place since the nineteenth century are things like CCTV cameras, Access Control Card Readers, Fingerprints, and Passports. CCTV cameras are video cameras which are situated on different floors or sections of a building; there is usually a control room where there are many screens which show each section of the building. These screens are watched by a security guard or somebody who works in that building, by doing this they can monitor who is entering and leaving the building and she if anything is being stolen. They can also rewind the footage as proof and so that they can track down the person easier and look over the footage more the once. The use of CCTV cameras has probably had the most impact on society out of everything as it has saved money. They no longer need many security guarding different doors they only need one person watching the screens, which has saved money for the company as they have to employee less staff and they won't be losing as much money on products being stolen or vandalised.

Improved usability of software

Security has improved usability of software drastically on society. Now CCTV cameras are that user friendly that you can zoom up on somebody or a section of a building with a click of a button. This is good for those who are not very advanced with using new technology, which means that training is not necessarily needed for this equipment. Also such things as card and fingerprint readers are that simple to use that you can get into a building more a less instantly.

Specialised interfaces, especially those for people with disabilities

Finger print readers are extremely good for those people who are blind or have a disability, as they can feel around for the reader and all they have to do is put there thumb on it. Also touch screens have become more common now, which is very useful for those in wheel chairs or have a disability as they do not have to look for buttons they only need to touch the screen.

Specialised interfaces for use in hostile environments

There are very high security measures in such places as nuclear power stations and clearing landmines. The reasons for this are so that only certain people are allowed into the buildings as there are dangerous substances and top secret information held in these building which can only be accessed by certain people. The security they use are such things as access control cards or fingerprint scanners which store all your information and show that you are allowed in that building if your card is correct and if your fingerprint is a match.

Increased complexity of software

Software has increased in complexity a great deal in the last ten or twenty years, as now a days we have CCTV cameras which are fantastic and so easy to use and things like finger print scanners, access control cards and fake passport detectors. Before we had any of these we had security guards on doors and only simplistic security, for example there we only padlocks on doors before CCTV was introduced so unwanted people could quite easily get into a building without getting caught.

Evaluating the good and not- so-good points of these developments

There are always good and bad points about any developments that have been introduced in particular CCTV cameras are probably the best development. The reasons for this are that they can track down people very easily and so that they can constantly see what is going one without anybody knowing. Another good point is that security guards are not needed as much and it is easier to see what is going on by looking at a screen. The only not as positive point I can think of this is that sometimes CCTV cameras can be over used and used for things they shouldnAt be.

The Impact of Security on the Economy

Security has had a huge impact on the economy as it has brought out some positives as well as some negatives to the world. However many people think that the use of CCTV cameras has gone too over the top and has become too much like Big Brother with cameras watching their every move in most towns and cities. They do not understand that these cameras have had probably the biggest impact on economy out of all the security measures. These CCTV cameras have prevented so many crimes such as pick pocketing, vandalism and theft and are a good source of proof for when a crime has to be taken to court. CCTV has also become very affordable for many home owners, as this extra security can be bought for as little as £300, for many this can make them feel more comfortable in their home and not have to worry about unwanted people entering their house.

Security has also had a big impact on passport fraud, as with modern technology it has made it very hard for a person to create a fake passport; however some are still being made on the black market selling for thousands of pounds to illegal immigrants who are trying to be a British Citizen. However they have now made it harder for immigrants to come into the country illegally for example in a back of a wagon or truck. Anybody who is coming into the country has to have a valid passport; if they do not then they will refused and have to go home to their country. Even if they do manage to get into the country illegally they will find it very hard to get a legal job or to receive any money or benefits from the government.

Working environments have changed a lot over the last ten years as nowadays most people are now working all day on a computer, rather than ten years ago where they only had simple methods of pen and paper. Almost all files are now computerized rather than paper based; this means that it is a lot more secure as these files can only be accesses by anyone who has a password. With modern technology many companies have started to use robots to make their products instead of humans, as they are a lot cheaper because robots do not need breaks like humans and they can work for a longer period of time and they do not need paying. A robot is also a lot more precise than a human as they can replicate the same instruction many times and make the product exactly the same as they last one they made.

Security has meant that there have been many jobs lost from CCTV because security guards are no longer needed to guard each entrance to a building, now it can be done with only one or two people like at video screens. Some jobs have been created though while some have been lost as CCTV Cameras will need to be created and maintaining, this will have to be done by professionals as it is a well skilled job.

Improved usability of software

Security has improved usability of software on the economy a great deal, as new technology is getting easier and easier to user every year. Computers are getting more complex but easier to use as everything is labelled clearly on them so it is hard to go wrong. CCTV cameras are also a lot easier to use now then when they first came out,as technology has advanced that much that you don't need much knowledge anymore to work it as they make it that user friendly.

Productivity per individual

As there are so many new ways of security many jobs have been lost because of it as security has become a lot easier and less people are needed in result. The workers also do not have to work quite as hard or stand outside in the cold anymore as they can check what is going on from inside the building.

Increased Automation

As there has been increased automation this has had a big effect on the economy as many robots are taking over the roles of humans. The reasons for this are that robots can work at a faster pace and can duplicate the same instruction as many times as it needs too. This is good for employers as they can save money as robots do not need breaks and can work at a faster more precise pace than humans.

Varied Working Environments

Working environment have now changed a lot as now most people do their work on computers instead of using the hand written methods of pen and paper. This is completely different from what they were used to twenty years ago as more storage space was needed for files, but now all that can be stored on a computer in one single file without taking up much room. Also typing is a lot more efficient and neater by hand now than it was twenty years ago as then only type writers could be used but they took up a lot of time and effort.

The Impact of Security on Culture

Security has had a big impact on culture as until chip and Pin methods where introduced all face-to-face credit or debit card transactions used a magnetic stripe or mechanical imprint to read and record account details, and a signature was needed for verification. Under this system, the customer hands their card to the person behind the counter, who either swipes the card through a magnetic reader or makes an imprint from the raised text of the card. In the former case, the account details are verified and a slip for the customer to sign is printed. Under the old system, a customer would have had to hand there are to the assistant for each payment. In certain places such as restaurants for example, this often meant that the card would be taken away from the customer to the card machine. This is no longer the case with the introduction of Chip and Pin as wireless Pin pads have been introduces that can be brought to the customers table.

Improved usability of software

The usability of software on culture has had a major effect to how other countries deal with security issues. The improved usability of software means that many disabled or blind people can even use a computer or security system such as a chip and machine or finger print reader and a lot of computers now have the power to speak to you.

The ways computers are used

Computers play a big part in security as they are used for such things as CCTV cameras and for chip and pin machines. Without computers none of these could have been introduced or researched, and we wouldn't have this fantastic technology today. Computers have meant that payments are faster and more efficient and security is a lot higher than it used to be.

Psychological and sociological impact

Security has had a major psychological and social impact on culture as because security has become so high crimes have lessened, because thieves think that they have more chance of getting caught now that twenty years ago. Also chip and pin machines have prevented as much fraud as now you need to know a special four digit number instead of easily forging a person's signature.

Conclusion

Security has had a major impact on society, economy and culture in the last ten or twenty years. It has meant that crimes have lessened, the culprits have been caught and technology has improved drastically. CCTV cameras have been the biggest improvement to technology out of all the security measures and jobs have been both gained and lost with this introduction. Without security the world wouldn't be what it is today and there would be many thefts and crimes happening right under our noses without any proof to prove that a certain person has committed that crime.