A conceptual model of human-computer interaction?

Abstract A framework is described for conceptualizing the interactions between people and computers which, it is hoped, will provide the basis of a theoretical model of human-computer interaction (HCI) sufficient to stimulate and guide research in the field. HCI is viewed as an exchange whose primary purpose is to affect the states of the agents that are involved. The exchange is ultimately between people but is partly mediated by artefactual agents acting as intermediaries or drones of their human owners. A distinction is drawn between interface and interaction, and the purposes of an interaction in this context are identified and discussed. In particular, the important purpose of morphogenesis is further elaborated. On the basis of this, a brief comment is made on what this implies for the improvement of interactions and then a longer comment is made on the implications for the separability of front ends. The conclusion is reached that, even on engineering grounds, the notion of a separate user interface management system is inherently flawed and that the current trend towards separable ‘interfaces’ is an undesirable development.