The Applied Approach is expressed as a set of requirements:
Requirement 1: An applied approach to HCI is a way of addressing the problem of designing human-computer interactions, by applying other discipline knowledge to support such design.
For example, disciplines such as psychology, sociology, ethnomethodology, linguistics, artificial intelligence etc have all been applied in different ways to the design of human-computer interactions.
Requirement 2: An applied approach to HCI involves the research and development of applying other discipline knowledge to support the design of human-computer interactions. Such knowledge may take the form of user models, human performance data etc. Such applications have been made by scientists, HCI researchers, and design practitioners.
An example application is the psychology finding that recognition is more effective than memory for activating commands, whether expressed in text or icon form. The application is generally considered to have been a success, in particular in GUI interfaces.
Requirement 3: The research and development of an applied approach to HCI constitutes a way forward in addressing the problem of designing human-computer interactions. First, relevant other discipline knowledge is identified as being potentially supportive of HCI design. Such knowledge is almost always descriptive, as in scientific knowledge.
For example, psychology’s assertion that recognition is more effective than memory. Second, the applied discipline knowledge is rendered prescriptive for the purposes of applied design. Such prescription may take the form of guidelines; heuristics; methods; expert advice; other designs; case-studies etc.
Requirement 4: An applied approach to HCI has ways of establishing how and whether the problem of designing human-computer interactions has been addressed or not. For example, interactive systems, whose design has been informed by prescribing other discipline knowledge can be assessed in terms of their success – as reflected in user satisfaction; workload; experience; design uptake etc. The extent to which this success has resulted from the application of guidelines; heuristics; methods; expert advice; other designs; case-studies etc derived from other disciplines can also be assessed. In the absence of success, however, it is unclear whether the original other discipline description or the derived HCI applied design prescription is at fault.
Examples of Applied Approaches to HCI
Morton, J., Barnard, P., Hammond, N., and Long, J. B. – Interacting with the Computer: a Framework
The paper argues that recent technological advances in the development of information processing systems will inevitably lead to a change in the nature of human-computer interaction. Direct interactions with systems will no longer be the sole province of the sophisticated data processing professional or the skilled terminal user. In consequence, assumptions underlying human-system communication will have to be re-evaluated for a broad range of applications and users. The central issue of the present paper concerns the way in which this re-evaluation should occur.
Applied Approach Illustration – Interacting with the Computer – a Framework
How well does the Morton et al. paper meet the requirements for constituting an Applied Approach to HCI? (Read More…..)
Read More.....Requirement 1: An applied approach to HCI is a way of addressing the problem of designing human-computer interactions, by applying other discipline knowledge to support such design.
The paper makes clear that the theories of cognitive science are the ones, which are to be applied to the design of humans interacting with computers (Comments 1, 2, 3 and 6). Cognitive science seeks to understand human behaviour.
Requirement 2: An applied approach to HCI involves the research and development of applying other discipline knowledge to support the design of human-computer interactions. Such knowledge may take the form of user models, human performance data etc.
The paper exemplifies the application of cognitive science models to the hypothetical design of interactive systems (Comment 4). Human performance is expressed in terms of errors (Comment 3).
Requirement 3: The research and development of an applied approach to HCI constitutes a way forward in addressing the problem of designing human-computer interactions. First, relevant other discipline knowledge is identified as being potentially supportive of HCI design. Second, the applied discipline knowledge is rendered prescriptive for the purposes of applied design. Such prescription may take the form of guidelines; heuristics; methods; expert advice; other designs; case-studies etc.
The paper reports two ways forward for an application approach to HCI. First, the acquisition of cognitive science models of humans interacting with computers (Comments 1, 2, 3 and 6). Second, the use of these models to supply output to designers to support their practice. The particular form of this out put is not addressed in the paper (Comments 3, 4 and 6).
Requirement 4: Finally, an applied approach to HCI has ways of establishing how and whether the problem of designing human-computer interactions has been addressed or not.
The paper exemplifies the application of cognitive science models to the design of humans interacting with computers. Its novelty lies in its conceptualisation of the latter rather than its operationalisation, test or generalisation
Conclusion: Morton et al’s research clearly demonstrates an approach to HCI. It satisfies all four requirements. In addition, then, it can be considered an applied approach, because it proposes the construction and application of cognitive science models to the design of human-computer interactions. The approach proposed in the paper is well conceptualised, although otherwise at an early stage. Note that the paper characterises itself as proposing a framework for interacting with the computer. Successful application of framework criteria would confirm this characterisation without invalidating the claim here that it constitutes an applied approach.
Mancini, van der Linden, Bryan and Stuart (2012) Exploring Interspecies Sensemaking: Dog Tracking Semiotics and Multispecies Ethnography.