[Sigia-l] IA research?

[Anne Miller]

> HCI, human factors, anthropology, ethnography and so on are coming to and
> perhaps usurping AI because the problem spaces we investigate lead us to
> questions that involve categorisation (AI) issues. 

As a graduate student in HCI currently fascinated with (and possibly
soon to be looking for work in) IA, I'd like to dispute this statement
insofar as it applies to HCI. I don't think the problem is that HCI is
usurping IA, more that HCI is (mostly) unaware of IA:I 


As a consultant, researcher and lecturer in Human Factors and HCI I
completely agree with you. My point was that as a consequence of using HCI
methods in analysis, design and evaluation HCI inevitably winds up hitting
IA problems. We then attempt to figure out solutions in somewhat hit and
miss ways - sometimes we are successful often less so. In this way we are
taking over IA's turf by default and often badly reinventing the IA wheel. 

I also agree with you that IA is largely invisible to the HCI community.
Thus the opportunity is there for IA to engage - though this is not without
its risks. CHI / UPA /HFES all provide forums for dialogue. HFES because it
wants to promote the broadest range of dialogue is the easiest forum to get
into and if you want to develop collaborative relationships then I know of
no better place to do this. Being a regular attendee at HFES's Annual
meeting there are usually a number of sessions that would accommodate IA -
professional reports are accepted and encouraged. UPA is another forum; CHI
is somewhat more elite(ist) in my opinion. The next HFES meeting is Orlando,
Florida in September. Abstracts are generally submitted in about February -
please show us what you have! 

Regards

A




Dr Anne Miller
Program Coordinator, Human Factors Online
www.uq.edu.au/human-factors-online
Key Centre for Human Factors & Applied Cognitive Psychology
Ph: 61 7 3365 4543
Email (preferred): amiller at humanfactors.uq.edu.au