Brief History of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Introduction

• Definition: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) involves the study and practice of how people interact with computers.
• Primary Focus: Graphical User Interface (GUI) as the dominant form of HCI.
• Purpose: Understanding past developments to foresee future improvements in HCI.

Early Visionaries and Concepts

Vannevar Bush

• Mimex: Conceptualized in 1945, a system for storing and retrieving knowledge.
• Impact: Ideas contributed to the development of the World Wide Web and hypertext.

JCR Licklider

• Man-Computer Symbiosis (1960): Envisioned tight coupling of human brains and computers.
• Focus: Interaction via input and output display for real-time communication.

Pioneering Developments in GUI

Early Screens and Interfaces

• PDP-1 Computer: Used for the first computer game "Space War" with a CRT display.
• Sketchpad by Ivan Sutherland (1963): Introduced GUI concepts and object-oriented programming.

Doug Engelbart

• Conceptual Framework for Augmenting Human Intellect (1962): Aimed at enhancing human intellect via computers.
• Mother of All Demos (1968): Introduced the mouse, online systems, and showcased graphical manipulation akin to modern interfaces.

Alan Kay

• Dynabook (1972): Early vision of a personal computer for learning, resembling modern tablets like iPads.

Influence and Evolution

Ted Nelson

• Concepts of Hypertext and Hypermedia: Influenced the development of the web.
• Xanadu Project: Explored alternative interface possibilities.

Institutions and Projects

• MIT, ARPA, ARPANET: Key institutions in HCI development.
• Augmentation Research Center: Significant in early HCI research.

Transition to Modern GUI

Xerox PARC

• Xerox Alto (1973): First computer designed to support GUI.
• Smalltalk: Programming language that influenced GUI development.

Apple and Microsoft

• Apple Lisa (1983) and Macintosh (1984): Popularized GUI in personal computers.
• Microsoft Windows (1985): Adopted similar GUI approach as Macintosh.

Later Developments

• NextStep (1988): Developed by Steve Jobs post-Apple, influenced future OS design.
• Windows 3 (1990) and onwards: Continued evolution with more color and features.

Reflection and Discussion

• Consistency over Time: Despite technological advancements, fundamental GUI concepts remain similar.
• Platform Comparison: Evaluate similarities and differences between modern operating systems like macOS and Windows.
• Future Thoughts: Consideration of touch interfaces and evolving HCI in technology.

Conclusion

• HCI has a relatively short but impactful history.
• GUI remains a cornerstone of human interaction with computers, showing both evolution and consistency over decades.