Exploring HCI and Its Philosophical Roots

Aug 27, 2024

Saint Thomas Aquinas and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Introduction

  • Saint Thomas Aquinas: Philosopher who argued about essence and existence.
    • Essence: Ideal core of everything.
    • Existence: Appearance and manifestation in the real world.
    • God: The only entity whose essence and existence are identical.

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

  • Definition: Interaction between humans and computers; prevalent in daily life.
  • Examples: Using computers, phones, digital devices like alarm clocks and smartwatches.
  • Importance: Defining feature of human life and culture today.

HCI: Phenomenon vs Profession

  • Phenomenon: Daily interaction with digital devices, beyond just computers (e.g., TV, cars).
  • Profession: Field of study and work focused on analyzing and designing interactions.

Professional Discipline of HCI

  • HCI Field: Combining design, innovation, and computer science.
  • Occupational Relevance: High interest due to the central role of computers in life.
  • Challenges: Understanding HCI as a scientific field with clarity.

Career in HCI

  • HCI Jobs: Typically require a strong understanding of the field beyond just the phenomenon.
  • Academic and Scientific Discipline: Focused on research within academic settings, not just business.
    • HCI Researchers: Work mainly at large tech companies, often require a PhD.

Misconceptions about HCI

  • Broad Essence: HCI encompasses multidisciplinary fields like design and computer usage.
  • Niche Reality: Primarily a research field within computer science.

Becoming an HCI Researcher

  • Requirements:
    • Interest in science and academia.
    • Understanding of computer science fundamentals.
    • Basic knowledge of related fields like algorithms, data structures, etc.

HCI as a Computer Science Subset

  • Publications: Core of HCI as part of computer science.
  • Main Organizations: ACM, IEEE.

Interdisciplinary Nature of HCI

  • Three Waves of HCI:
    • Psychology and Computer Science integration.
    • Inclusion of social sciences.
    • Humanities contributing to HCI.

Opportunities and Challenges

  • Inclusivity: Diverse fields and approaches are accepted.
  • Complexity for Beginners: Understanding standards and quality in HCI.

Skills for HCI

  • Competence Areas:
    • Computer science fundamentals.
    • Social sciences or humanities specialization.
    • Academic research interest.

Conclusion

  • Career Path: Requires a blend of computer science, social sciences, and academic interest.
  • Future Topics:
    • Continuing discussions on HCI in future episodes.
    • Exploring intersections of design, technology, and philosophy.

Note: Ensure to subscribe to the Design Discipline platforms for more insights into HCI.