HCI, aka human-computer interaction, is an interdisciplinary field. It draws from fields like psychology, sociology, and cognitive science to improve its services. Yet, despite all the humanistic qualities it involves, it’s still mainly considered computer science. (Eyman, p.55). Eyman suggests digital rhetoricians, critical code studies, and HCI work and research collaboratively as they’re all intertwined.
According to Dix, Finlay, Abowd, and Beale, HCI is “the study of people, computer technology, and the ways these influence each other” (1993). That sounds similar to the outcomes of code studies and digital rhetoric. While HCI is focused on producing hardware, software, and interfaces, that is exactly what digital rhetoric thrives on. In case you forgot, digital rhetoric also uses these interfaces as a tool of communication.
Code and Interfaces
Code communicates something as well, or rather, forces us to behave in specific ways beyond our control. For example, the iPhone was designed for right-hand users. That would make it more difficult for left-hand users to own an iPhone. But because most of America is right-handed, meaning this was done on purpose. In the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, one of Facebook’s original designers explains the code he used for the app. He made it so that when we scroll all the way up, the app refreshes. Once the app refreshes, we get a whole new feed. That mechanism targets dopamine receptors, making social media apps with functions such as that one—highly addictive! HCI works with psychology and sociology studied behavior.
Interfaces, therefore, become a site of interaction and rhetorical engagement. We need rhetorical insight in tech design and code to make systems more usable, accessible, and empowering to their users. Since we are using these technologies, it is 100% in our power to make it the safest it can be. All three systems are connected.
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