16.03.20

The topic for today was Human-Computer Interaction, short HCI, and it’s including methodologies, which define the interaction between humans and computers, presented by Gian Huber and Alec Nikolov. Today was also the first presentation over zoom due to the pandemic, which still turned out great, despite the circumstances of the new and weird environment.

Historical Background

Until the late 70s, the term Human Interaction Design didn’t have a big importance and impact in the society, since computers were only accessible for a bunch of academics and scientists. Due to this, it wasn’t necessary to analyze and explain the interaction between humans and computers.

HCI combines many different scientific fields such as Computer Science, Human Factor Engineering and Cognitive Science and is therefore a multidisciplinary field of study and focuses mainly, as the name implies, on the interaction between human (user) and computer. Especially for Interaction Designers HCI should play a huge role in the process of a design and may be used as reference.

We were introduced to different methods that can be used for HCI research:

Cultural Probes This method is used to get new and inspiring perspectives and ideas on a design in the process. Normally, a cultural rehearsal requires third parties who carry out certain procedures and thus give the designer new ideas. This can be an interview, a handicraft task, a game, etc., depending on your needs.

Body Storming Body Storming is similar to Brainstorming, but for this method real physical activities may be included and not just the thought of them. Trying to put the user in the situation of the final design to get a more detailed insight into it.

Readings:

Buur, J., Fraser, E., Oinonen, S., & Rolfstam, M. 2010. “Ethnographic video as design specs”. In Proceedings of SIGCHI Australia’ 10.

Liz Danzico . 2010. “From Davis to David: Lessons from Improvisation”. In Interactions.

Fogg, B.J. 2003. “Conceptual Designs”. In Laurel, Brenda (ed.). Design Research. Methods and Perspectives.

Gaver, Bill, Dunne, T., & Pacenti, E. 1999. “Design: Cultural probes”. In Interactions, 6(1), 21-­29.

Oulasvirta, A., Kurvinen, E., & Kankainen, T. 2003. “Understanding contexts by being there: case studies in bodystorming". In Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 7(2), 125­-134.

Sanders, E., & Stappers, P. J. 2008. “Co­creation and the new landscapes of design”. In CoDesign, 4(1), 5–18.

Verplank, Bill. 2008. Interaction Design Sketchbook.