Document description and overview

Human Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is the study, planning and design of the way human beings and modern computing devices interact. It is a renaissance discipline, newer and more necessary now that a significant portion of the population use a computer on a regular basis. The term was actually coined in a book that maintains that unlike other tools that have been developed throughout human civilization, and computer has so many uses that were not even part of its design. Also the idea is that HCI is such a large topic of study because it includes psychology, behavior, computer science, medicine (especially kinesiology), pedagogy, and numerous other adaptive behaviors and studies (Card, et.al., 1986).

HCI and IBM- International Business Machines, IBM, has moved from working with its own PC brand to primarily the design, reinvention, and reinterpretation of research and development on computing issues. Its Center for Social Software, for instance, works with corporations and universities to push the development of cutting edge technology. It also pushes the envelope with its User Sciences Group, Social Computing Group, and Collaboration Technology Group. In Social Culture, for instance, IBM is working to ensure that the modern urban environment is able to utilize computing to ensure that urban problems may be more aggressively addressing using HCI programs. This is accomplished through higher levels of communication with the platform -- Web 3.0 for instance, working on smart grids, and understanding how human population pressures can be mitigated using technology (Social Computing Group, 2011).

HCI and Web 3.0 - In any interaction, there must be dialog. In HCI the dialog is between not just the machine and the individual, but the operating system and the software packages that are used. As the need for that interaction increases in business, education, the public and private sector, and even individually, it is necessary to move from the simply issue of a dual delivery system -- synchronous and asynchronous, to a more robust and full-fledged computing platform that serves web applications and end uses. For instance, Web 2.0 promotes three interrelated functions: participation, collaboration, and distribution. The focus of Web 2.0 systems is on content creation rather than content consumption, which is supportive of a constructivist approach to learning (Robertson, 2008). Web 2.0 supports two types of learning environments: asynchronous and synchronous.

Rapidly changing technology is moving human computer interaction toward Web 3.0 systems where users will no longer be dependent upon professional programmers and writers (Cronk, 2007). Web 3.0 simplifies human-computer interaction by "enabling the computer to understand the actual/intended meanings of the content as they process it.." This allows the computer user greater "control over how information is accessed and aggregated to best serve the purpose at hand" (Kamel Boulos & Wheeler, p. 19).

Web 2.0 can facilitate asynchronous online social interaction. Asynchronous online communication is defined as "a text-based human-to-human communication via computer networks that provides a platform for the participants to interact with one another to exchange ideas, insights, and personal experiences" (Cheung, Hew, & Ng, 2008, p. 30). A defining feature of asynchronous communication is that it does not occur simultaneously or concurrently in time. Although a critical tool for distance education, asynchronous discussions are incorporated into the traditional face-to-face classroom environment with increasing frequency and remain preferred over synchronous modes by instructors and institutions (Blankson & Kyei-Blankson, 2008; Cheung et al.).

One very interesting and pervasive use of HCI and Web 3.0 technology is the HelpDesk that occurs within operating system to insure ethical integrity and the ability of the user to have help at the system and software levels. This is particularly true for users who simply must have the software package working right. HCI studies show that almost 85% of those surveyed believe that they must have a way to understand the system layout and ask questions if relevant. This is so relevant to HCI that standards have been developed that will typify the context and questions asked to "learn" to anticipate the user on a more robust basis (Knapp, 2009).

Social Computing- Regardless of the machine -- computing can make it smarter. Phones, buildings, roads, cars, entertainment devices, even animal feeding bowls and aquarium filters. In this way, we mean "smart" to denote things that are digitally functioning, that can hold data, make some decisions, and can track, manage and focus on solutions for individuals. We also know that social computing is quite rampant in the contemporary world. When we combine these, people can be active parts of systems that are fundamental to the operation of a system. Increasing this interaction and told development/anticipation allows for a way to improve our work and home environment through the use of computing tools (Erickson, 2011).