The engineering approach is expressed as a set of requirements:
Requirement 1: An engineering approach to HCI is a way of addressing the problem of designing human-computer interactions. Engineering seeks to support ‘design for performance’.
For example, if e-shopping check out performance is too slow, engineering design would seek to speed it up by improving the shopper/shopping kart interactions or some such.
Requirement 2: A engineering approach to HCI involves the research and development of design for performance in terms of its specification as a design problem and its implementation as a design solution.
Requirement 3: The research and development of an engineering approach to HCI constitutes a way forward in addressing the problem of designing human-computer interactions for performance.
For example, support for design for performance has evolved from design guidelines to design models to design principles. Performance has evolved from errors to how well the task itself is carried out.
Requirement 4: An engineering approach to HCI has ways of establishing whether the problem of designing human-computer interactions for performance has been addressed or not.
If a design problem is specified , then the solution implemented can be evaluated in terms of performance, for example, speed and errors, usability, workload etc. If desired performance is achieved, then the extent to which this success is supported by guidelines, models, principles etc can also be assessed.
Examples of Current Engineering Approaches to HCI
Blandford, A. (2013) Engineering works: what is (and is not) “engineering” for interactive computer systems?
The paper’s aim is to facilitate discussion on the role and value of engineering in relation to interactive computer systems. It is, intentionally, not a well engineered argument for a particular position; but a series of vignettes putting forward different cases, for and against particular views of engineering in relation to interactive computer systems (ICS). The intention is that the community should establish a better shared understanding of the nature, value and role of engineering in the ICS context.
How well does the Blandford paper meet the requirements for constituting an Engineering Approach to HCI? (Read More…..)
Read More.....Requirement 1: An Engineering Approach to HCI is a way of addressing the problem of designing human-computer interactions by seeking to support ‘design for performance’.
Blandford claims that engineering addresses the practical problems, associated with human-computer interactions with a view to their resolution. See Comments 2, 3, 4, 7, and 13.
Design for performance is clearly implicated in criteria, identified with well-engineered. See Comments 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 18 and 19.
The requirement is, then, considered to have been met.
Requirement 2: An engineering approach to HCI involves the research and development of design for performance in terms of its specification as a design problem and its implementation as a design solution.
Blandford supports the idea that engineering addresses practical problems, seeking their solution. See Comments 7, 13 and 16.
Research acquires both modelling and methodological knowledge to address practical problems with assurance. See Comments 2, 6, and 8.
The requirement is, then, considered to have been met.
Requirement 3: The research and development of an engineering approach to HCI constitutes a way forward in addressing the problem of designing human-computer interactions for performance.
Blandford identifies a number of ways forward for HCI engineering, including: principles research; a phased design process; requirements and testing; and cognitive modelling. See Comments 1, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
The requirement is, then, considered to have been met.
Requirement 4: Finally, an engineering approach to HCI has ways of establishing whether the problem of designing human-computer interactions for performance has been addressed or not.
Blandford identifies both verification and validation as ways to support engineering being done well and to increase the assurance of the latter. See Comments 2, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15 and 16.
The requirement is, then, considered to have been met.
Conclusion: Blandford’s paper, then, meets all the requirements for being considered an engineering approach to HCI. The approach is at a high level of description in keeping with its aim to facilitate discussion on the role and value of engineering in relation to interactive computer systems.