Human Computer Interaction (HCI)

HCI

Today’s the dayyy!! (Thank the lord). In our last and final reading of Doug Eymans “Defining and Locating Digital Rhetoric”, we were introduced to Human Computer Interaction (HCI). According to Dix, Finlay, Abowd, and Beale (1993), human computer interaction is the study of how people and computer technology influence each other. HCI focuses on producing hardware, software, and interfaces. It also provides different tools and systems that will support new media, networks, and other digital applications. 

H. Rex Hartson also offers us a more specific definition of human computer interaction. He believes HCI is a field of research, development, methodology, theory, and practice. Its main objective is to design, construct, and evaluate computer based interactive systems. This includes things such as input/output devices, displays, documentation, etc. So that way people will be able to use them effectively and with satisfaction.

CCS

Mark Marino also introduced us to Critical Code Studies (CCS). It is an approach that applies critical hermeneutics to the interpretation of computer code, program architecture, and documentation. And it relies specifically on rhetorical methods. Programmers are perfecting their code for how they want users to experience their platform or software. As well as making sure that the computer will correctly process the information given to it. The reason for this approach is to gain an understanding of how meaning is made at the human computer interface. These studies also aim to examine the infrastructure behind the software. This is done by examining the code itself. Marino suggests that we should look at codes not only from the perspective of what they can do for us, but also how it functions as a system, object, and form of communication.

Thoughts

Overall, this last piece of Eyman wasn’t too bad. My brain isn’t completely fried and I thought the section was pretty short compared to others we’ve had the pleasure of reading. But I did learn a lot. Thank you Eyman, goodbye and good riddance. 
Side note: Check out my last blog post

Related posts:

It’s Helpful? The Effects of Technology on Education Interactivity in Digital Rhetoric How Do People and Computers Interact?