[Sighci-l] We are breathing.....

[Andrew Dillon]

Well, I am pleased to note that this SIG has produced more activity via
email over the last week than I have witnessed in the last 2 years - this
must count for something. I'd like to explore, however, the extent to which
HCI within ASIST has something unique to offer to its members and the
broader ASIST community.

At the recent Annual Conference of ASIST I deliberately asked a provocative
question of the IA panel (which was something like: "What have you told us
that is new?"). I would propose a similarly provocative line for us e.g.,
what can HCI within ASIST offer that is new/unique/of value?

In one way, I am convinced that the C in HCI is potentially misleading -
since the field's focus has always been on tasks, the notion that we are
studying phenomena that exclude information or content is not sustainable to
me. Furthermore, I would point out that I believe information is part of the
interface, it carries with it conventions and forms which serve a
communicative process to the user, regardless or how the screen is designed
or the control functions are displayed. Perhaps we are the Human Information
Interaction group really, but that name hardly helps either.

When I listen to much of what passes for IA within ASIST I also feel the
need for the HCI group since so many issues related to user experience are
excluded from the rather narrow 'little IA' perspective that dominates
there. 

So much for the good - but what do we offer in response?

Perhaps we just need this venue for those of us who want to talk on
occasion. But I would like something more. I cannot track the original
message that raised the point about how lacking in HCI knowledge many people
still are (was it you Murray?) but I think this raises a really interesting
point for us to consider in the light of the question I asked the IA panel:
What should we be doing to get the message out about the value HCI can add
to the information world?

I would love to see a panel at the next annual that had a series of
presentations where each person contributed one example of how HCI has added
knowledge to the field that makes a difference. At the IA summit I heard the
keynote speaker say that the research on usability was relatively  useless
as it told him nothing he did not already know. I challenged him on this
publicly but his point stuck with many. Are we able to counter such
arguments for HCI in general? Perhaps we do not need a panel so much as a
public debate to stir up interest and activity in this SIG. That's my
suggestion, but I'd love to hear yours.....