Book Reading #4: HCI Remixed

Chapter 24
Summary
In this chapter Chris Schmandt discusses the “Wizard of Oz” technique in research and how it was used to study some of the first speech-recognition software. In John Gould’s paper, “Composing Letters With a Simulated Listening Typewriter,” he used the “Wizard of Oz” technique, in which “a human manipulates a computer interface under evaluation, without knowledge of the subjects.” Schmandt discussed how the technique has been used in many more areas of research since then. He also discussed how connected-speech dictation systems are still not very successful today likely because so many people are already skilled typists.

Discussion
I had never heard of the “Wizard of Oz” technique, so I enjoyed reading how the technique worked and how successful it was in the study. Having a sister who can no longer type well due to pain in her wrists (first the doctors said it was carpal tunnel, then tendonitis, but now they say it’s early arthritis), I find information on these types of systems to be very interesting. However, I do agree that such systems don’t hold much value to people who have been typing for many years.

Chapter 25
Summary
Steve Harrison describes how a work of art, “Hole in Space,” impacted him and changed his view on video-mediated communication. The artists projected full-size images of Lincoln Center in New York and Century City in Los Angeles. Harrison describes how the crowds reacted and how it helped him and his colleagues realize how much potential their Media Space project had.

Discussion
This chapter demonstrates how inspiration and encouragement can come from unexpected people and places. Harrison found it worrisome that two artists were coming to show him their artwork, but it sounds like he was totally blown away once he saw the video. I also really enjoyed reading how people responded to the “Hole in Space.”

Chapter 26
Summary
Scott Jenson uses the ideas presented in the work, “Envisioning Information,” to strengthen his argument about interaction design. He uses the elevator as an example to describe what “1+1=3” means. Basically, having two buttons - one for close and one for open – creates the requirement of a cognitive load: understanding that there are two buttons and then choosing a button. Jenson discusses design sins and how to fix them by possibly getting rid of the “close” button on an elevator or making the “open” button larger.

Discussion
Jenson does a good job of explaining the design issues and tying in the “1+1=3” concept. I also like his elevator example. I’m sure many of us can relate to the elevator incident described in this chapter. I also liked how he put the common reaction to doing away with a feature: “It usually raises screams of protests” from programmers and product managers.

Chapter 27
Summary
Jodi Forlizzi discusses in detail the Typographic Space System and how it made way for a new area of research within interaction design and human-computer interaction through the addition of motion as a design variable. Forlizzi then discusses her research on kinetic typography.

Discussion
This chapter seemed to focus a little less on the impact a paper had on the writer and more on the topic of the paper, typographic space. Though Forlizzi does mainly discuss the research, she does a good job of explaining the work and its significance in the HCI community.

Chapter 28
Summary
Steve Whittaker explains that one important aspect of A. Kidd’s paper, “The Marks Are on the Knowledge Worker,” was that it made researchers reconsider their focus at the time, storing a lot of information. It also inspired a new focus, sense making. Whittaker goes on to describe how Kidd’s claims are still relevant today and concludes by pointing out Kidd’s two main points about considering how we process new information and considering what is the value of stored information. 

Discussion
This chapter seemed to be less about how the paper impacted Whittaker and more of a persuasive/argument kind of paper outlining what was right and wrong in Kidd’s paper. However, it does still outline why it is relevant today and I agreed with many of the points Whittaker makes about folders and information storage.

Chapter 34
Summary
Michael J. Muller discusses how the book, “Ethnocriticism: Ethnography, History, Literature” impacted him in ways he hadn’t expected. He also outlines problems and solutions discussed by the author and shows how similar HCI workers are to ethnohistorians, anthropologists who had to “translate from each Native Nation’s language, culture, history, and claims into the language and evidentiary rules” required by the U.S. Congress. He goes on to lay out three major principles described by the author that can apply to HCI workers.

Discussion
This chapter made for a very interesting read. I enjoyed how Muller took something unrelated to CHI and applied it to CHI. Muller lays out some good concepts that people should consider when working in areas like his.