People and Computers XVI - Memorable Yet Invisible: Proceedings of HCI 2002 - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1852336595 ISBN 13: 9781852336592

Publisher: Springer, 2002

Synopsis

For the last 20 years the dominant form of user interface has been the Graphical User Interface (GUl) with direct manipulation. As software gets more complicated and more and more inexperienced users come into contact with computers, enticed by the World Wide Web and smaller mobile devices, new interface metaphors are required. The increasing complexity of software has introduced more options to the user. This seemingly increased control actually decreases control as the number of options and features available to them overwhelms the users and 'information overload' can occur (Lachman, 1997). Conversational anthropomorphic interfaces provide a possible alternative to the direct manipulation metaphor. The aim of this paper is to investigate users reactions and assumptions when interacting with anthropomorphic agents. Here we consider how the level of anthropomorphism exhibited by the character and the level of interaction affects these assumptions. We compared characters of different levels of anthropomorphic abstraction, from a very abstract character to a realistic yet not human character. As more software is released for general use with anthropomorphic interfaces there seems to be no consensus of what the characters should look like and what look is more suited for different applications. Some software and research opts for realistic looking characters (for example, Haptek Inc., see http://www.haptek.com). others opt for cartoon characters (Microsoft, 1999) others opt for floating heads (Dohi & Ishizuka, 1997; Takama & Ishizuka, 1998; Koda, 1996; Koda & Maes, 1996a; Koda & Maes, 1996b).

About this title

Synopsis

This volume contains the full papers presented at HCI 2002, the 16th annual conference of the British HCI Group. The idea of making systems memorable is one of the ways in which they can be made easier to operate but in making systems memorable it is easy to make them obtrusive. The conference aims to look at the questions of memorability and invisibility. Can systems be both memorable and invisible? Or are memorable systems far from invisible? Is an invisible and memorable system possible? And if so, what might it consist of? Do systems become memorable and invisible with familiarity even if they are initially quite difficult to use? The papers presented in this volume cover all the main areas of HCI research, but also focus on the theme of designing systems that are memorable, yet invisible, including: Interactive system design.- Interaction tools and techniques.- Users with special needs.- Virtual reality and multimedia.- Mobile interaction.- Social and cultural issues.- Psychology of programming and general computer interaction.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1852336595
• ISBN 13: 9781852336592
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 435
• Editor: Faulkner Xristine, Finlay Janet, Detienne Francoise