University HCI Reflective Essay: First Computer Experience

This reflective essay delves into the author's personal journey with Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), beginning with their first experience with a personal computer. The essay describes the initial excitement and challenges faced by the author, who, despite being a computer studies student, lacked fundamental computer skills. It chronicles their learning process, from struggling with basic operations to attending computer classes and developing a passion for the field. The author reflects on feelings of inadequacy and the transformative impact of a supportive classmate who mentored them. The essay evaluates the author's personal growth, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, determination, and continuous learning in acquiring computer skills. It concludes with an action plan for future development, including further training, learning new programming languages, and introducing young people to technology. The author aspires to become a renowned computer scientist, emphasizing the skills and knowledge gained to thrive in the evolving computer landscape.

Reflective Essay on HCI 1
REFLECTIVE ESSAY ON HCI
By(name)
Class:
Lecturer:
University:
Date:

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Introduction
Human computer interaction in a layman language means the study of how users interact
with computers or technology “Norman, 2017”. It involves the process of designing technology
for interaction users, especially human beings. However, with time it has expanded to include
other technologies advancement such as websites, application software, tablets, robotic devices
and more (Cockton, 2004). HCI gives guidelines on how a technology should be design for
communication and interaction. If it is a new computer being design, the questions will be; how
should this computer look like in order to appeal to the end user? How should it be made simple
for purposes of use? In this paper I will write a reflective journal on my first experience of a
personal computer.
Description
Some few years back I bought my first computer through cash money sent by my father. I
was so excited to have a computer of my own. Although I had visited a school computer lab
before, I still didn’t know how to communicate with a computer neither did I know what to look
in a computer through I needed a professional PC. I spoke to classmate who was savvy with a
computer and even knew what a website was and all that. We went to the nearby computer retail
shop and bought a HP laptop, 15 inch. From this point I was ready to play with my computer
with my interest of getting to know everything.
The only thing I was sure with my computer is to turn on and off by pressing the power
button. I turned on the PC and did not understand what to do but still I was elated. I simply
tapped on everything and didn't have any idea on how to come back to the past screen. At
whatever point I had issues with my PC, the ultimate solution I know was to turn the computer
off and switch it on again. However, with time I decide to attend computer packages class and
this is where my passion of computer studies started. I was able to understand how computers
interact with users through commands(Higginbotham,2014). This was my turning point. I have
learned several skills such as command line language, Object oriented programming, website
design, system design, computer hardware and technology innovation in the field of computing.
Feelings

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As a student of information technology, I really felt inadequate in matters computers
from what type of computer to buy and how to use it. I was a student of computer class, but still
was not able to use a computer effectively. I knew nothing about windows, computer application,
how to troubleshoot computers, how to connect to internet and I have a clue of what web
browser. My classmate who happened to have been exposed to computers at a young age,
challenged me on to work hard to understand the computer. He kept imparting on me new things
whenever we came out of the class and through this I developed a strong attitude towards
computers. At first it was mysterious on how computer is “told” to do something and it does.
This inspired me to get to know computers more, I felt I needed this knowledge and in future
make gadgets that can communicate with human beings like computer.
Evaluation
'Personal growth depends on self-awareness and determination to improve yourself'
(Irving and Williams, 1999). Learning is a lifetime process of finding what isn't known and
acknowledgment of the knowledge gap pushes a person to yearn to know what he/she doesn’t
know (Beard, 2018) and urge to do things that, that knowledge is needed for self-development
(Slagter, 2007).
My computer skills were at infancy stage when I got my first PC. With time I have
become computer savvy and even advanced to serious computing through continuous private
learning and attending seminars, computer forums and information technology classes. My
classmate will remain one of the figures in my life who changed my view on computing. If he
had refused to accompany me to buy the best computer then, may be my view of information
technology would have changed. In addition, he took his time to orient me into computers, and
this is where I develop love for computers. He is one of the selfless professionals who glad in
others progress. His gesture of helping me get a good computer and training me to use it, was
one of the best things I loved in him.
Conclusion
To conclude, I will say that I have had the best experience developing from a novice to a
reliable computer expert. When I remember that day that I got my personal computer, I become
excited and feel proud of the development I have had in my computer skills. I consider myself

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lucky being a computer student. I feel on top of the because of the fact that I get to know new
technologies in computing and probably be part of the team that are invited to launch and
implement new systems in various sectors. I have developed skills necessary to survive in a new
computer dispensation through hard work. My aspiration is to become a renowned computer
scientist in my home and beyond.
Action plan
I might want to keep expanding on my computer compliance so as to increase my
knowledge and keep abreast of the emerging technologies. Accomplishing this will be through
training and self-coordinated learning, just as through class computer studies, which offers help
for the understudy; this will help me in further advancement of abilities, information and
empower me to improve my computer skills. I also will want to learn to a higher level of
knowledge in most technologies and comply with the current programming languages such as C,
C++, Java, Python and more (Baumgartner, Läufer and Russo, 2019). I am also learning new
technologies such as Internet of things and Blockchain. Apart from developing myself, I will
introduce young kids to computers and any other technology when they are still young; I don’t
want them to be ignorant like me when they are grown.

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References
Baumgartner, G., Läufer, K. and Russo, V.F., 2019. On the interaction of object-oriented design
patterns and programming languages. arXiv preprint arXiv:1905.13674.
Beard, K.S., 2018. Standing in the gap: Theory and practice impacting educational opportunity
and achievement gaps. Urban Education, 53(5), pp.668-696.
Cockton, G., 2004. Value-centred HCI. In Proceedings of the third Nordic conference on
Human-computer interaction (pp. 149-160). ACM.
Cottrell, S., 2019. The study skills handbook. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Higginbotham, C.D., 2014. Voice-based command driven computer implemented method. U.S.
Patent 8,812,056.
Irving, J.A. and Williams, D.I., 1999. Personal growth and personal development: concepts
clarified. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 27(4), pp.517-526.
Norman, K.L., 2017. Cyberpsychology: An introduction to human-computer interaction.
Cambridge university press.
Slagter, F., 2007. Knowledge management among the older workforce. Journal of knowledge
management, 11(4), pp.82-96.