Reference Information
Interaction Design in the University: Designing Disciplinary Interactions
- Gale Moore and Danielle Lottridge
- CHI 2010, Atlanta, Georgia
Interaction Design in the University: Designing Disciplinary Interactions
- Gale Moore and Danielle Lottridge
- CHI 2010, Atlanta, Georgia
Summary
Interaction design deals with the layout of products as geared towards enhancing the user experience. Making technology more accessible to the masses is a major goal of HCI, so it is very important to discover new ways of making this more possible.
Interaction design deals with the layout of products as geared towards enhancing the user experience. Making technology more accessible to the masses is a major goal of HCI, so it is very important to discover new ways of making this more possible.
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| Transdisciplinarily working towards a common goal. |
The paper points out three different ways to go about solving a problem: multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary. And by discipline, the paper also means a field, such as computer science or psychology. Multidisciplinarity deals with two separate fields making separate contributions, whereas interdisciplinarity is where two disciplines become one, as in biochemistry forming from biology and chemistry. The third type, transdisciplinarity, is where the most advantage is gained. This method brings multiple fields of study together and combines each field’s findings to gain a more encompassing solution to the problem. They argue that if departments in universities recognized and encouraged this kind of cross-disciplinary research more as valid tenure research, it would benefit interaction design more, as well as other fields of study.
Discussion
In many other aspects of life, you see multiple people brought in for a task for the same reason. Teams of people work on major projects not only for diving up work, but also to bring in multiple viewpoints. One person is only able to think so far before his/her thought processes are exhausted. By having even just one other person to think about an issue or problem, the new ideas could be better than the old ones, or even open up new ways of thought for the original person. This can continue to perpetuate until a much better and thorough result is reached.
In many other aspects of life, you see multiple people brought in for a task for the same reason. Teams of people work on major projects not only for diving up work, but also to bring in multiple viewpoints. One person is only able to think so far before his/her thought processes are exhausted. By having even just one other person to think about an issue or problem, the new ideas could be better than the old ones, or even open up new ways of thought for the original person. This can continue to perpetuate until a much better and thorough result is reached.
I think this is a great idea they have suggested, and I hope it begins to catch on at many universities, if it hasn’t already. I can understand the want for upper-level studies to remain within the department, but this can go both ways. Outside departments could help in computer science problems, and vice versa. All it takes is a couple people willing to try out a new idea.
If the ID field is used to observe and note which disciplines could work well together, then I agree. If it is used to just try out different combinations of disciplines, however, it could lead to problems.
ReplyDeleteI like how you compared the issue and simplified it to the idea of a team. Each team member is expected to contribute to the common goal as their knowledge best relates to the issue.
ReplyDeleteI think that specialization in one's field is the way to go. That's why I have a problem with colleges trying to cram everything down everyones throat but then when they get in industry, they leave the majority of their learning behind. Check out this vid.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your summary and discussion this article. I agree that this technique should be used in more universities.
ReplyDelete