User (computing)
Encyclopedia
A user is an agent
, either a human agent (end-user) or software agent
, who uses a computer
or network
service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username (also user name), screen name (also screenname), nickname (also nick), or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.
Users are also widely characterized as the class of people that use a system
without complete technical expertise required to understand the system fully. In hacker-related contexts, such users are also divided into luser
s and power user
s. Both are terms of degradation, but the latter connotes a "know-it-all" attitude.
In projects in which the actor
of the system is another system or a software agent
, it is quite possible that there is no end-user for the system. In this case, the end-users for the system would be indirect end-users.
The term end-user refers to the ultimate operator of a piece of software, but it is also a concept in software engineering
, referring to an abstraction
of that group of end-user
s of computers (i.e. the expected user or target-user). The term is used to distinguish those who only operate
the software from the developer of the system, who knows a programming language
and uses it to create new functions for end-users.
This abstraction is primarily useful in designing the user interface
, and refers to a relevant subset of characteristics that most expected users would have in common. In user-centered design
, several fictional Personas are created to represent the archetypal end users, which may include differences concerning which computer interfaces with which each persona is comfortable (due to experience or their inherent simplicity), and the persona's technical expertise and degree of knowledge in specific fields or discipline
s.
When few constraints are imposed on the end-user category, especially when designing programs for use by the general public, it is common practice to expect minimal technical expertise or previous training in end users (the general meaning associated with the term end-user). In this context, easy-to-learn GUIs
(possibly with a touchscreen
) are usually preferred to more sophisticated command line interfaces for the sake of usability.
The end-user development discipline blurs the typical distinction between users and developers. It designates activities or techniques in which people who are not professional developers create automated behavior and complex data objects without significant knowledge of a programming language.
to system services and be granted authorization
to access
them; however, authentication does not imply authorization. To log in
to an account, a user is typically required to authenticate oneself with a password
or other credentials for the purposes of accounting, security
, logging, and resource management
.
Once the user has logged on, the operating system will often use an identifier such as an integer to refer to them, rather than their username, through a process known as identity correlation
. In Unix
systems, the username is correlated with a user identifier
or user id.
Computer systems are divided into two groups based on what kind of users they have:
User accounts on multi-user systems typically include a home directory
, in which to store files
pertaining exclusively to that user's activities, which is protected from access by other users (though a system administrator
may have access). User accounts often contain a public user profile
, which contains basic information provided by the account's owner.
In online communities
, screen names can become a mark of persona
, some of them acquiring a certain level of fame from the contributions of their holders. Some famous screen names :
Don Norman has stated:
Intelligent agent
In artificial intelligence, an intelligent agent is an autonomous entity which observes through sensors and acts upon an environment using actuators and directs its activity towards achieving goals . Intelligent agents may also learn or use knowledge to achieve their goals...
, either a human agent (end-user) or software agent
Software agent
In computer science, a software agent is a piece of software that acts for a user or other program in a relationship of agency, which derives from the Latin agere : an agreement to act on one's behalf...
, who uses a computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
or network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username (also user name), screen name (also screenname), nickname (also nick), or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.
Users are also widely characterized as the class of people that use a system
System
System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole....
without complete technical expertise required to understand the system fully. In hacker-related contexts, such users are also divided into luser
Luser
In Internet slang, a luser is a painfully annoying, stupid, or irritating computer user.It is a portmanteau of "loser" and "user"....
s and power user
Power user
A power user is a user of a personal computer who has the ability to use advanced features of programs which are beyond the abilities of "normal" users, but is not necessarily capable of programming and system administration...
s. Both are terms of degradation, but the latter connotes a "know-it-all" attitude.
In projects in which the actor
Actor (UML)
An actor in the Unified Modeling Language "specifies a role played by a user or any other system that interacts with the subject.""An Actor models a type of role played by an entity that interacts with the subject ,...
of the system is another system or a software agent
Software agent
In computer science, a software agent is a piece of software that acts for a user or other program in a relationship of agency, which derives from the Latin agere : an agreement to act on one's behalf...
, it is quite possible that there is no end-user for the system. In this case, the end-users for the system would be indirect end-users.
End user
The term end-user refers to the ultimate operator of a piece of software, but it is also a concept in software engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
, referring to an abstraction
Abstraction
Abstraction is a process by which higher concepts are derived from the usage and classification of literal concepts, first principles, or other methods....
of that group of end-user
End-user
Economics and commerce define an end user as the person who uses a product. The end user or consumer may differ from the person who purchases the product...
s of computers (i.e. the expected user or target-user). The term is used to distinguish those who only operate
Operator (profession)
An operator is a professional designation used in various industries, including broadcasting , computing, customer service, physics, and construction. Operators are day-to-day end users of systems, that may or may not be mission-critical, but are typically managed and maintained by technicians or...
the software from the developer of the system, who knows a programming language
Programming language
A programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs that control the behavior of a machine and/or to express algorithms precisely....
and uses it to create new functions for end-users.
This abstraction is primarily useful in designing the user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
, and refers to a relevant subset of characteristics that most expected users would have in common. In user-centered design
User-centered design
In broad terms, user-centered design or pervasive usability is a design philosophy and a process in which the needs, wants, and limitations of end users of a product are given extensive attention at each stage of the design process...
, several fictional Personas are created to represent the archetypal end users, which may include differences concerning which computer interfaces with which each persona is comfortable (due to experience or their inherent simplicity), and the persona's technical expertise and degree of knowledge in specific fields or discipline
Discipline
In its original sense, discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order –...
s.
When few constraints are imposed on the end-user category, especially when designing programs for use by the general public, it is common practice to expect minimal technical expertise or previous training in end users (the general meaning associated with the term end-user). In this context, easy-to-learn GUIs
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
(possibly with a touchscreen
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
) are usually preferred to more sophisticated command line interfaces for the sake of usability.
The end-user development discipline blurs the typical distinction between users and developers. It designates activities or techniques in which people who are not professional developers create automated behavior and complex data objects without significant knowledge of a programming language.
User account
A user's account allows a user to authenticateAuthentication
Authentication is the act of confirming the truth of an attribute of a datum or entity...
to system services and be granted authorization
Authorization
Authorization is the function of specifying access rights to resources, which is related to information security and computer security in general and to access control in particular. More formally, "to authorize" is to define access policy...
to access
Access control
Access control refers to exerting control over who can interact with a resource. Often but not always, this involves an authority, who does the controlling. The resource can be a given building, group of buildings, or computer-based information system...
them; however, authentication does not imply authorization. To log in
Login
Login is the method whereby a user obtains access to a computer system.Login may also refer to:*Magazines:** LOGiN, published by Enterbrain** ;login:, published by USENIX* Login, Carmarthenshire, an hamlet in Carmarthenshire...
to an account, a user is typically required to authenticate oneself with a password
Password
A password is a secret word or string of characters that is used for authentication, to prove identity or gain access to a resource . The password should be kept secret from those not allowed access....
or other credentials for the purposes of accounting, security
Computer security
Computer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
, logging, and resource management
Resource management
In organizational studies, resource management is the efficient and effective deployment of an organization's resources when they are needed. Such resources may include financial resources, inventory, human skills, production resources, or information technology...
.
Once the user has logged on, the operating system will often use an identifier such as an integer to refer to them, rather than their username, through a process known as identity correlation
Identity correlation
In information systems, identity correlation is a process that reconciles and validates the proper ownership of disparate user account login IDs that reside on systems and applications throughout an organization and can permanently link ownership of those user account login IDs to particular...
. In Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
systems, the username is correlated with a user identifier
User identifier (Unix)
Unix-like operating systems identify users within the kernel by an unsigned integer value called a user identifier, often abbreviated to UID or User ID...
or user id.
Computer systems are divided into two groups based on what kind of users they have:
- Single-user systems do not have a concept of several user accounts.
- Multi-userMulti-userMulti-user is a term that defines an operating system or application software that allows concurrent access by multiple users of a computer. Time-sharing systems are multi-user systems. Most batch processing systems for mainframe computers may also be considered "multi-user", to avoid leaving the...
systems have such a concept, and require users to identify themselves before using the system.
User accounts on multi-user systems typically include a home directory
Home directory
A Home directory is a file system directory on a multi-user operating system containing files for a given user of the system. The specifics of the home directory is defined by the operating system involved; for example, Windows systems between 2000 and 2003 keep home directories in a folder...
, in which to store files
Computer file
A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished...
pertaining exclusively to that user's activities, which is protected from access by other users (though a system administrator
System administrator
A system administrator, IT systems administrator, systems administrator, or sysadmin is a person employed to maintain and operate a computer system and/or network...
may have access). User accounts often contain a public user profile
User profile
A user profile is a collection of personal data associated to a specific user. A profile refers therefore to the explicit digital representation of a person's identity...
, which contains basic information provided by the account's owner.
In online communities
Online community
An online community is a virtual community that exists online and whose members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. An online community can take the form of an information system where anyone can post content, such as a Bulletin board system or one where only a restricted...
, screen names can become a mark of persona
Persona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...
, some of them acquiring a certain level of fame from the contributions of their holders. Some famous screen names :
- CmdrTaco, of Rob MaldaRob MaldaRob Malda , also known as CmdrTaco, is founder and former editor-in-chief of the website Slashdot. He is a graduate of Hope College and Holland Christian High School....
, founder of the website Slashdot. - lcamtuf, of Michał Zalewski, a security expert.
Criticism of the word "user"
Some usability professionals have expressed their dislike of the term "user", proposing it to be changed.Don Norman has stated:
See also
- Anonymous postAnonymous postAn anonymous post is an entry on a bulletin board system, Internet forum or message board, blog, or other discussion forum without a screen name or more commonly by using a non-identifiable pseudonym....
- End-user computingEnd-user computingIn computing, End User Computing refer to systems in which non-programmers can create working applications. EUC is a group of approaches to computing that aim at better integrating end users into the computing environment...
, systems in which non-programmers can create working applications. - End-user database, a collection of data developed by individual end-users.
- End-user development, a technique that allows people who are not professional developers to perform programming tasks, i.e. to create or modify software.
- End-User License AgreementSoftware license agreementA software license agreement is a contract between the "licensor" and purchaser of the right to use software. The license may define ways under which the copy can be used, in addition to the automatic rights of the buyer including the first sale doctrine and .Many form contracts are only contained...
(EULA), a contract between a supplier of software and its purchaser, granting the right to use it. - User errorUser ErrorA user error is an error made by the human user of a complex system, usually a computer system, in interacting with it. Although the term is sometimes used by Human Computer Interaction practitioners, the more formal human error term is used in the context of human reliability.User Error and...