Product Description

Designing Interactive Systems: People, Activities, Contexts, Technologies is an exciting, new, forward-looking textbook in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). Authoritative in its coverage, this innovative book takes a top-down approach, starting with what is familiar to students and working down to theory/abstract underpinnings. This makes it suitable for beginners with a less technical background as well as advanced students of HCI and can be used at all stages of the curriculum for courses in this dynamic field. The book focuses on and explores this emerging discipline by bringing together the best practice and experience from HCI and interaction design (ID). The approach takes traditional human-centred concepts from HCI, but recognizes that we have gone beyond computers and are concerned with designing engaging interactions between people and a wide range of devices, products and systems. New areas explored include information appliances, supported cooperation and ubiquitous computing and systems.

From the Back Cover

Designing Interactive Systems: People, Activities, Contexts, Technologies is an exciting, forward-looking textbook in Human Computer Interaction (HCI). It is suitable for beginners as well as advanced students of HCI and can be used at all stages of the curriculum.

Authoritative in its coverage, the book draws on the authors' extensive experience in research and teaching. A self-contained introduction to the area is followed by a systematic discussion of the influence of human psychology on the design of interactive systems, illustrated by many real-world examples. Next, a practical, scenario-based design method and techniques are presented. Later sections treat hot topics such as affective computing, social navigation and computer-supported cooperative work. A range of current methods, including contextual design and the latest thinking in evaluation, are treated in detail. These more advanced, research-led chapters encourage the reader to reflect critically on the domain as a whole.

The book explores this continually developing discipline by bringing together the most useful aspects of established practice with newer perspectives. The approach recognizes that we have gone beyond computers in the workplace and are concerned with designing engaging interactions between people and a wide range of devices, products and systems.

This book is highly suitable for those studying HCI as part of a course in Software Engineering, Computer Science or similar subjects, and ideal for Human Computer Interaction students and professionals needing to know more about this field.