Human-Machine Interface

Few aspects of modern life have gone unaffected by machines and computers, devices that amplify our ability to perform useful tasks. Whether mechanical or mental aids, these devices are only as useful as our ability to operate them, which can often be directly attributed to the efficacy of the human-machine interface, the means by which users and the system communicate with each other. The human-machine interface includes the hardware and software used to translate user input into commands and to present results to the user. The human-machine interface is also referred to as the human-computer interface or simply the user interface. This entry describes usability, input and output, and evolution of the human-machine interface.