Artifact as theory-nexus: hermeneutics meets theory-based design

Abstract

We suggest that HCI designs characteristically embody multiple, distinct psychological claims, that virtually every aspect of a system's usability is overdetermined by independent psychological rationales inherent in its design.These myriad claims cohere in being implemented together in a running system.Thus, ItCI artifacts themselves are perhaps the most effective medium for theory development in ItCI.We advance a framework for articulating the psychological claims embodied by artifacts.This proposal reconciles the contrasting perspectives of theory-based design and hermeneutics, and clarifies the apparent paradox of ItCI application leading HCI theory.