[Sighci-l] Live or let die?

[Joe Konopka]

Hi Diane, I would have to disagree with you on the fact that the HCI sig for
asis is far more user focused than the CHI sig for ACM. If you look at some
of the research by Ben Schneiderman from the University of Maryland and
Marilyn Tremaine from NJIT, most of their research and subsequent findings
are on the user side. They are some of the more active members in CHI.
joe
----- Original Message -----
From: "Diane Nahl" <nahl at hawaii.edu>
To: "Joe Konopka" <jkonopka at nj.devry.edu>
Cc: <sighci-l at asis.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Sighci-l] Live or let die?


> Joe said:
> > To be quite honest, there are many sigs out there from other
> > organizationscovering the topic of HCI. ACM is the one that comes
> > to mind immediately. I
> > think HCI as a central theme for IS research needs to remain but
> > whetherasis is a good fit, should be the real question. When I
> > receive mailings
> > from asis, many of the topics cover the area of library science
> > rather than
> > information systems.
>
> Of course ACM has a huge CHI  sig (computer is primary for them),
> however, the ACM perspective is not the same as the HCI ASIST
> perspective. In my opinion (as faculty in a computer science dept. with
> a significant HCI faculty base and an LIS Program) the ASIST
> perspective is far more user-focused, and that provides a distinct
> advantage for the HCI area and for developing better information
> systems. Andrew Dillon's work integrates the CHI and HCI perspectives
> and that is critical for real progress. I would say that HCI is a best
> fit in ASIST because it is grounded in use of information systems and
> holistic in nature. Library science is inherently about information
> systems, they cannot be separated.
>
> The fact that sig use covers usability is not surprising, how else can
> one study information use if we omit information system use? That
> doesn't mean sig use covers all relevant HCI issues, but HCI needs to
> incorporate the findings of the use studies. HCI is huge and growing,
> yet is still in its infancy.
>
> aloha, Diane
>
> Dr. Diane Nahl, University of Hawai'i at Manoa
> Information and Computer Sciences Department
> Chair, Library and Information Science Program
> 2550 The Mall, Honolulu, HI 96822
> www2.hawaii.edu/~nahl   voice: 808-956-5094
> FAX: 808-956-5835
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Joe Konopka <jkonopka at nj.devry.edu>
> Date: Thursday, December 5, 2002 6:13 am
> Subject: Re: [Sighci-l] Live or let die?
>
> > To be quite honest, there are many sigs out there from other
> > organizationscovering the topic of HCI. ACM is the one that comes
> > to mind immediately. I
> > think HCI as a central theme for IS research needs to remain but
> > whetherasis is a good fit, should be the real question. When I
> > receive mailings
> > from asis, many of the topics cover the area of library science
> > rather than
> > information systems.
> > joe
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Andrew Dillon" <adillon at gslis.utexas.edu>
> > To: <sighci-l at asis.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 5:21 PM
> > Subject: [Sighci-l] Live or let die?
> >
> >
> > > Well there are a couple of points to consider here. First, is the
> > field of
> > > HCI dying? That is a real question but I sense that Joette is
> > asking more
> > > about the SIG within ASIST and I thank her for raising this.
> > >
> > > Is  this SIG beyond dying and in fact dead? Where is the
> > discussion on
> > this
> > > list? Where were the members at the recent annual meeting? Barbara
> > mentioned
> > > Sig USE which seems to be thriving- I was not aware until the
> recent
> > annual
> > > that SIG USE now covers usability (appratently) as part of its
> > > discussions....why have we got an HCI list if that is the case?
> > Barbara> mentioned that SIG Use is more concerned with people's
> > interactions with
> > > information than technology. Again, I always felt that HCI did
> > cover that
> > > too......so I have to ask, what are we here for if the major
> > areas we
> > > consider important to HCI are covered by other SIGs? I cannot
> > subscribethat
> > > HCI is only about people and technology without information being
> > part of
> > > that use of the 'technology' word, but that might just be
> > me....Do others
> > > SIGS cover HCI issues adequately? If not, why is there so little
> > activityin
> > > this list?
> > >
> > > And if this is not enough, I have a bigger question than these
> > (it is
> > > possible)....just what do we expect from a SIG?
> > >
> > > According to the official ASIST view:
> > >
> > > "SIGs give members with similar professional specialties the
> > opportunityto
> > > exchange ideas and keep themselves informed about current and
> > discrete> developments in their fields. The activities of the SIGs,
> > planned by their
> > > members and elected officers, provide clear indication of the
> > diverse> interests and needs of ASIST members. Through
> > participation in SIGs, you
> > can
> > > help design what, in essence, are small professional
> > organizations within
> > > the broader national society. "
> > >
> > > So we have the forum but we have not had the events or plans. I
> > am not
> > sure
> > > I need another list to discuss ideas on when I find the various
> > divisions> between HCI, UE, IA, USE etc. to be largely irrelevant
> > to me, and if I
> > just
> > > need to talk narrow usability or interface design issues then
> > there are
> > many
> > > other dedicated lists I can use outside of ASIST. So, I have to
> > ask the
> > > members,  what do we want here? If we cannot answer this, then
> > this group
> > > is, in my view, defunct. I hope it is not so, and cannot help but
> > thinkthat
> > > ASIST without an HCI group would be a poorer society but the
> > evidence of
> > the
> > > last year makes me wonder how we might consider it otherwise. Is
> > there> really room for an HCI sig anymore? I'd love to hear some
> > voices.....>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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