Affordances in activity theory and cognitive systems engineering (original) (raw)
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Affordances in Activity Theoy and Cognitive Systems Engineering
For the last decade, the Gibsonian concept of affordances has attracted much attention within Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) and related research communities. The application of Gibson's ideas in HMI has lead to the notion of direct manipulation of interface objects. Previously, the focus has been on design for low level interaction modalities. To incorporate the concept of affordances in the design of human computer interaction it is necessary to systematically unravel affordances that support human action possibilities. Furthermore, it is a necessity that Gibson's theory of affordances is supplemented by careful analyses of other human modalities and activities than visual perception. Within HMI two well established perspectives on HMI, Activity Theory (AT) and Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE), have discussed such analyses and design of action possibilities focusing on providing computer support for work situations. Within these perspectives, the primary unit of analysis in HMI is human work activity and the socio-cultural context in which this activity is carried out. Thus, they emphasise the actors' purposeful activity as the most important design rationale. According to previous views in HMI, notably those that have been put forward by Norman and Gaver, affordances are in the foreground, whereas the system or work area is in the background. AT and CSE share the view that the actors' perception of foreground and background shifts dynamically according to the actors' situational context in purposeful activity. AT and CSE follow the original notion by Gibson on the actor's dynamic shifting between foreground and background of the environment. Furthermore, their work-and actor-centred approach to analysis and design of information systems opens up to an extension of Gibson's original ideas to cover deeper semantic and pragmatic aspects of the ecology of work, as compared with the previous applications of Gibson's theory in HMI.
For the last decade, the Gibsonian concept of affordances has attracted much attention within Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) and related research communities. The application of Gibson's ideas in HMI has lead to the notion of direct manipulation of interface objects. Previously, the focus has been on design for low level interaction modalities. To incorporate the concept of affordances in the design of human computer interaction it is necessary to systematically unravel affordances that support human action possibilities. Furthermore, it is a necessity that Gibson's theory of affordances is supplemented by careful analyses of other human modalities and activities than visual perception. Within HMI two well established perspectives on HMI, Activity Theory (AT) and Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE), have discussed such analyses and design of action possibilities focusing on providing computer support for work situations. Within these perspectives, the primary unit of analysis in HMI is human work activity and the socio-cultural context in which this activity is carried out. Thus, they emphasise the actors' purposeful activity as the most important design rationale. According to previous views in HMI, notably those that have been put forward by Norman and Gaver, affordances are in the foreground, whereas the system or work area is in the background. AT and CSE share the view that the actors' perception of foreground and background shifts dynamically according to the actors' situational context in purposeful activity. AT and CSE follow the original notion by Gibson on the actor's dynamic shifting between foreground and background of the environment. Furthermore, their work-and actor-centred approach to analysis and design of information systems opens up to an extension of Gibson's original ideas to cover deeper semantic and pragmatic aspects of the ecology of work, as compared with the previous applications of Gibson's theory in HMI.
User interfaces as organisational action media
2004
The issue at stake is how to conceive user interfaces of IT artefacts in an organisational and semiotic perspective. Different communicative functions of user interfaces are investigated and the sequencing of user-system interaction. Two earlier models in the information systems actability approach are investigated and integrated: The Elementary InterAction Loop (EIAL) and the communicative model of user interfaces. Three new EIAL models are created dependent on three interaction modes (reading, formulation and navigation mode). A small example from eldercare is used for illustration. The foundations of the different interaction models in socio-instrumental pragmatism are discussed.
Theoretical Frameworks for Human Computer Interaction
2011
This paper is concerned about the state of theory in HCI and discusses the adequacy of current theoretical frameworks that have been proposed for HCI. These findings are based on our study of these frameworks and their application on various systems under study. Approaches such as activity theory, cognitive ergonomics and distributed cognition are three theoretical frameworks explaining co-operative work. Each of them is applied on multiple case studies describing different work settings. But those work settings usually refer to different work realities, so it is difficult to properly compare those viewpoints. So we analyzed the same work setting, with the three different frame- works mentioned above. The report does not pretend to give detailed case studies but aims to underline how approaches which explain co- operative work can be used to analysed a same work situation. This will allow us to compare the relevant questions each theory is asking and should answer when studying a co...
Context and Consciousness: Activity Theory and Human-Computer Interaction, Two Book Reviews
ACM Sigchi Bulletin, 1997
As useful and ubiquitous as computers have become in human activity and as innovative as people have been in inventing new uses for computers, it is not easy to think in principled ways about how new computer systems can be made more useful for human purposes. Much is left to the marketplace, user adaptations, and the fiowering of ad hoc bright ideas. Analyses of how computer systems may be integrated into acdvity are often found wandng, and when sophisdcated ethnographic or sociocultural analyses of user pracdces are available, they are not easily integrated into design thought and practice. The original essays published in Context and Consciousness: Activity Theory and Human-Computer Interaction offer activity theory (AT) as a principled and coherent yet flexible and growing set of analytic tools to aid human-computer interaction (HCI) designers in their task of bringing machines and humans together in humanly meaningful acdvity.
Working spheres or engagements: Implications for designing?
Interacting with Computers, 2008
At the recent CHI 2006 conference, one of the most talked about papers was Implications for Design , which discussed how ethnographic contributions to HCI should be evaluated. It provides a timely context for considering doctoral dissertation on working spheres or engagements. This commentary thus gives equal attention to both, since Dourish's position is critical to giving González's a "fair hearing" as an ethnographic contribution for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). However, to fully explore the implications for designing of working spheres/engagements, we must also adopt an understanding of contemporary design processes which is far richer than design teams being given insights, ideas and recommendations from ethnographers, usability evaluators and other 'independent' experts. The primary goal in these processes is to understand user value, business value, and value for non-commercial sponsors. Understanding activities is a secondary concern.
Activity theory: A versatile framework for workplace research
ANNUAL CONFERENCE-SOCIETY FOR TECHNICAL …, 2000
During the past decade activity theory has attracted a small but influential group of researchers in two fields that contribute to theory and research in technical communication: human-computer interaction and composition studies. In my STC-sponsored research into electronic editing in technical communication, I am applying activity theory to provide a coherent explanatory perspective on the findings of the qualitative portion of my study. This paper provides a brief introduction to activity theory and applies its analytical framework to help make sense of the qualitative data I gathered on electronic editing practices and attitudes in three different technical communication workplaces.