T2: Introduction to Interaction Design

Half day tutorial for NordiCHI 2002 in Aarhus in October 2002.

Liam J. Bannon, Dept. of Computer Science & Information Systems, University of Limerick, Ireland

Abstract

This half-day tutorial provides a general introduction to the emerging area of Interaction Design. The tutorial will provide participants with an understanding of the underlying disciplines and interdisciplinary communities that contribute to the area, note some of the key concepts and methods used, and provide some resources for those interested in further investigation.

Introduction

This half-day tutorial is intended to provide an overview of the emerging field of Interaction Design. While there are a number of different perspectives on this emerging field, all perspectives emphasize shifts in the relation between people and information and communication technology, - from interface to interaction, from use to being with, from functionality to engagement, from work to home and "on the move", from content to form. The background context out of which this field has emerged will be described. This will include an overview of the interdisciplinary fields of human-computer interaction (HCI), computer -supported cooperative work (CSCW), and participatory design (PD). Likewise, design-oriented fields have begun to open up to the increasing penetration of digital technologies into all aspects of our lives, from the workplace to the home, and the use of mobile personal technologies. This short tutorial will provide a map of the different disciplines involved, some of the key concepts that guide the work, and some of the methods being employed, as well as providing some resources for further study. By the end of the workshop, attendees should have a clear understanding of the similarities and differences this emerging discipline has with the more established HCI tradition, and of the state-of-play in the area.

Audience

As this is an introductory tutorial it does not have any specific prerequisites. It should be of interest to a wide variety of people who are curious about the emergence of this "new" field, from research scientists to managers, engineers and educational practitioners. Students involved in any aspect of human-machine engineering would also find it of interest.

Format

This tutorial will mainly involve lecture-style presentations, together with some short demonstrations and video-clips.

About the Instructors

Liam Bannon is Professor of Computer Science in the Dept. of Computer Science and Information Systems, and Director of the Interaction Design Centre at the University of Limerick, Ireland. He was trained in psychology and computer science at University College Dublin, (B.Sc. (Hons.)), Trinity College, Dublin, (M.Sc.), and the University of Western Ontario, Canada (Ph.D.) He subsequently held a post-doctoral fellowship with Don Norman at the Institute of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, and has held University appointments in Aarhus, Copenhagen, Umeå and Oulu. He is widely published and cited in the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), and general information systems fields. He is a founding editor of the CSCW Journal, a founding member and former Programme Chair of the European CSCW Conference series, and a member of the European CSCW Foundation, which organizes this conference series. His major research interests are in the conceptual foundations of the field of human-computer interaction, emphasizing collaborative human activities. The UL Interaction Design Centre has received extensive national and EU research funding for its work in the areas of HCI and CSCW, and currently has 2 projects in the Future and Emerging Technologies programme on "The Disappearing Computer". Liam was recently presented with a Recognition of Service Award by the ACM at the ACM CHI'2000 Conference in Amsterdam, where he worked as Tutorials Co-Chair. He also received such an award from ACM in 1999. He has been an invited speaker at several international conferences and Summer Schools, and is involved in a wide range of editorial and professional activities in HCI and related areas.

Luigina Ciolfi is a research officer and doctoral student at the Interaction Design Centre, University of Limerick. She has a Laurea (Master's degree) in Communication Sciences, University of Siena (Italy), specialising in Design and Management of Communication Technologies. She has worked on the EU I3 HIPS (Hyper Interaction within Physical Space) Project, receiving an Italian Award for the best 1999 thesis in the field of technology supporting cultural heritage. Currently she is working on the EU Disappearing Computer SHAPE (Situating Hybrid Assemblies in Public Environments) Project.

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