Book Reading 17 – HCI Remixed

Chapter 6 - A Creative Programming Environment
Summary
The writer went over the beginning of the GUI based on interaction with icons.  He longs for HCI innovation to not just be incremental, but to also make massive gains as with Pygmalion.

Discussion
I really enjoyed seeing what is considered to be the first use of icons in a GUI.  Most of us probably take for granted the GUI for an OS.  Based on what the first iterations looked like, I am fortunate to have had so many improvements since then.

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Chapter 7 - Fundamentals in HCI: Learning the Value of Consistency and User Models
Summary
The Xerox Red Book was discussed.  Its importance in developing the user interface with various options was explained.

Discussion
It’s cool to see the perspective of people before the age of the GUI.  It must have been really exciting to design the outline for such an invention and be on the verge of its existence.

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Chapter 9 - The Disappearing Computer
Summary
The notion of the disappearing computer was discussed.  There were two aspects pointed out.  One was the computer physically disappearing into devices.  The other was the computer remaining but people not realizing its presence since it’s such a large part of life.

Discussion
It’s unbelievable how much computers really have disappeared in both regards.  It’s quite plain to see my tower next to me, but I never think much of it honestly.  It’s kind of an assumed part of life.  When the power goes out or the internet goes down, that’s when I really notice that there’s a computer sitting next to me all the time.

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Chapter 10 - It Really Is All About Location!
Summary
The Active Badge system was mentioned.  Its connection to the GPS and path-finding systems of today was discussed.

Discussion
I remember when MapQuest and Google first became options for finding your way.  It seemed so crazy to not have to call someone and write directions for to get somewhere.  Now these methods are so prevalent that they can be used in phones.  No one really has an excuse for not knowing how to get somewhere, unless there is no cell phone reception.  Then we’re sunk.

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Chapter 46 - The Essential Role of Mental Models in HCI: Card, Moran, and Newell
Summary
The connections between mental models and technical research is discussed.  There is a clear debate about which type of field is driving HCI research.

Discussion
Obviously all of the contributing fields are important.  But getting inside people’s heads is crucial in designing an interface that is easy to use.  From the other readings, it’s clear that psychology plays a massive role in successful design and implementation.

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Chapter 47 - A Most Fitting Law
Summary
Fitt’s Law is the main topic of discussion.  More specifically, its application to modern GUI design is pointed out and the ways in which menus should behave to cater best to humans.

Discussion
I never knew laws like this went into the design of a GUI.  Also, there seems to be quite a bit of thought that goes into menu behavior and theory behind why one design is better than another.  You can notice if a design is poor, but following Fitt’s Law would be able to specifically point out why this is.

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Book Reading 4 – HCI Remixed

Chapter 24 - A Simulated Listening Typewriter: John Gould Plays Wizard of Oz
Summary
The writer discussed early speech recognition software and the challenges that went along with it.  He also talked about the eve of the “Wizard of Oz” method of research testing.

Discussion
I remember awhile ago when talking and typing seemed like a big thing, but it seems to have virtually disappeared by now.  I think a lot of it has to do with how it’s more natural to write thoughts down through our hands than it is to speak them.  The way we piece together thoughts for writing and for speech seem different enough that this makes sense to me.

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Chapter 25 - Seeing the Hole in Space
Summary
Hole in Space refers to an art project through telecommunications two people did.  It involved two communication spots very far away from each other in which people on both sides could see each other.  People reacted to strangers through this device more openly than they did with those strangers right next to them.

Discussion
This was a really impressive experiment.  It’s very interesting to hear about novel ideas from years ago that are now commonplace.  The Hole in Space from years ago is now today’s Skype or company videoconferencing meeting.

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Chapter 26 - Edward Tufte’s 1 + 1 = 3
Summary
“1+1=3” is Tufte’s way of describing design clutter.  The writer of this chapter uses an example of the open and close buttons in an elevator.  By having the two buttons nearly identical in size and appearance, this caused unnecessary confusion when deciphering their functions in a split second.

Discussion
I’ve never quite looked at elevator buttons like this, but I have dealt with clutter before.  When I have had to count many similarly-sized objects in the past, my eyes can go crazy and lose my place.  I imagine this problem is similar to what the writer was trying to point out.

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Chapter 27 - Typographic Space: A Fusion of Design and Technology
Summary
The writer started talking about the older state of printing text and graphics.  This then transitioned to kinetic typography and the experiments and uses of this technology.

Discussion
This seems like yet another valuable technology that is taken for granted today.  After she mentioned it, I realized how much this kinetic typography is used for atmosphere in TV shows and movies.  And to an extent, this is used in comic books and graphic novels for certain text, even though it is not in motion obviously.

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Chapter 28 - Making Sense of Sense Making
Summary
Two issues were explained in this chapter.  One was the meaningful sorting of new information, and the other was making sense of this information.  Then the writer related these issues to today’s information age.

Discussion
I don’t think I have ever deleted an email from my Gmail account, but with good reason.  I never know when I might need something.  And if I do, I can search for it and it pops up.  I’ll admit that keeping old and useless files on a computer is wasteful, even if you have the space to spare.  But I hate wondering if I still have an email or file that I suddenly need.  I’d rather have the virtual clutter than run into this problem.

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Chapter 34 - Revisiting an Ethnocritical Approach to HCI: Verbal Privilege and Translation
Summary
The writer started by explaining a bit of the history of Native Nations achieving sovereign state status after WWII.  He then explained how using HCI and thinking in ethnographical terms can help with ethics, politics, and epistemology.

Discussion
This reading was not as interesting as the others, at least to me.  I can see where he was going with it though.  Possibly some of the things I learn in this class can help me deal with ethical issues in the workforce.

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Book Reading 3 - HCI Remixed

Chapter 1 - My Vision Isn’t My Vision: Making a Career Out of Getting Back to Where I Started
Summary
One of the first major computing marvels was described and was capable of creating music and animation.  This machine’s main purpose was revealed to be for HCI research.  The title of this selection refers to the writer wanting to eventually give back to the HCI community as much as his experience with this machine and its creators did.

Discussion
Being a massive fan of electronic music or anything containing electronic elements, this was a really interesting story about one of the first machines to make this type of music.  Also, the idea of making a machine for someone like a musician as a means of study was a really clever idea.

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Chapter 4 - Drawing on SketchPad: Reflections on Computer Science and HCI
Summary
When creating a program with a user interface, do not only design for novice users.  The needs of the advanced users should also be kept in mind.  It was also noted to design software for users, and not merely for the sake of having such a device.  The end purpose of the device can lose sight in this case.

Discussion
It’s cool that such an old paper can have such influential ideas way ahead of its time.  And the point of designing for advanced users as well is a good point.  I have definitely seen a few programs out there that are perfect for someone with little knowledge in video encoding, for instance.  But these definitely lack the extra control a more advanced user would want, and are therefore not suitable enough for that purpose.  Keeping the target audience in mind is very important.

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Chapter 5 - The Mouse, the Demo, and the Big Idea
Summary
The invention of the mouse was discussed, and the writer explained how its demo video prompted her to understand the true notion of the Big Idea.  We are also reminded that great ideas don’t have to be right.  They are successful even if they just compel others to strive for amazing things.

Discussion
HCI was really a foreign field to me before taking this class.  But the more I learn about it, the more I am realizing that I have been surrounded by it my entire life.  And even great ideas can be simple and still revolutionize society by being groundbreaking in regards to HCI.

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Chapter 18 - Observing Collaboration: Group-Centered Design
Summary
The development of groupware was discussed.  A major part in the development of this was the study of John Tang who paid close attention to how a group of people collaborated in sketching out ideas.  This is study is still playing a large role in groupware developments today.

Discussion
As in what our ethnography studies will most likely teach us, the most elegant solutions to HCI appear to reside in meticulously watching how people naturally act.  The key to a great design or idea is one that capitalizes on natural human tendencies, and simplifies the technical implementation of them to the point where they still feel natural in a new environment.

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Chapter 20 - Taking Articulation Work Seriously
Summary
This chapter discussed more about Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW).  It explained that the groupware concept can and should be applied to more areas than just in software applications.

Discussion
This sounded to me like the writer was pointing at CSCW as aiding in helping many people work together in various environments.  Towards the end of the chapter she mentioned bathrooms where the sinks and toilets are automated.  Honestly, I was a little confused at what most of the writer was talking about here.

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Chapter 23 - Video, Toys, and Beyond Being There
Summary
Beyond being there refers to enhancing the face-to-face (F2F) interactions as with conferencing and the like.  While original philosophies on this idea attempted to replace F2F interactions with technology, the writer pointed out that technology should enhance F2F instead.

Discussion
The writer brought up Facebook, and this has become a tool for good and bad in enhancing F2F interactions.  The good is obviously learning more about people while being hundreds of miles apart.  When you finally see these people again, you can feel like you have known each other for far longer than is actually the case.  The bad to me is being judged solely by what you do on Facebook.  Here, Facebook is wrongly being used to completely replace F2F interactions.  I realize you need to be mindful of what you do on the internet, but assuming that one facet of a person’s life is enough to describe the person as a whole is unjust and short-minded.  An employer looking up candidates on Facebook is an excellent example of this.  Changing your name is an easy workaround, but I don’t feel this should be an issue in the first place.  I also don’t feel this will ever change.

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