The use of anti-patterns in human computer interaction: wise or III-advised?

Abstract

In this paper the tenability of anti-patterns in Human-Computer Interaction is explored. Patterns have been accepted as being useful in software development and more recently also in Human-Computer Interaction. A concerted effort is being made in Software Engineering to identify and document anti-patterns. Patterns and anti-patterns are essentially about transferring captured expert knowledge, therefore compatibility between the nature of anti-patterns and the nature of the learner's internal knowledge representation and processing is crucial. This paper addresses the differences and similarities between patterns and anti-patterns and how this impacts on the mental models and cognitive processing of patterns and anti-patterns. We present evidence from theories of mental modelling and reasoning that highlight possible significant dangers in the use of anti-patterns to teach novices human-computer interaction principles. If the notion that the current representation of anti-patterns is not supporting cognitive processing is correct, a new approach to structuring anti-patterns is needed. Recommendations are made towards a new specification technique for HCI antipatterns.