Context and consciousness: activity theory and human-computer interaction

TLDR

Activity theory provides a framework for understanding human‑computer interaction, integrating concepts of computer‑mediated activity, situated action models, distributed cognition, and evolving ideas such as the zone of proximal development and the role of tools as objects of affection. The authors employ activity theory to guide the design of educational technology, framing computer‑mediated change as a design problem. Using activity theory, the study demonstrates how video data can be interpreted, computers can be viewed as tools in human activity, joint attention and co‑construction of tasks can be fostered, and offers reflections on its application, illustrated by the postal buddy case.

Abstract

Part 1 Activity theory basics: introduction activity theory and human-computer interaction, Bonnie A. Nardi activity theory as a potential framework for human-computer interaction research, Kari Kuutti computer-mediated activity - functional organs in social and developmental contexts, Victor Kaptelinin studying context - a comparison of activity theory, situated action models and distributed cognition, Bonnie A. Nardi activity theory - implications for human-computer interaction, Victor Kaptelinin. Part 2 Activity theory in practical design: introduction designing educational technology - computer-mediated change, R.K.E. Bellamy applying activity theory to video analysis - how to make sense of video data in HCI, Susanne Bodker tamed by a rose - computers as tools in human activity, Ellen Christiansen joint attention and co-construction of tasks - new ways to foster user-designed collaboration, Arne Raeithel and Boris M. Velichkovsky some reflections on the application of activity theory, Bonnie A. Nardi. Part 3 Activity theory - theoretical development: introduction activity theory and the view from somewhere - team perspectives on the intellectual work of programming, Dorothy Holland and James R. Reeves developing activity theory - the zone of proximal development and beyond, Vladimir P. Zinchenko mundane tool or object of affection? the rise and fall of the postal buddy, Yrjo Engestrom and Virginia Escalante epilogue, Bonnie A. Nardi.