(Brief) History of HCI

Key people, events and ideas in HCI

Fall 2019

History of HCIØDigital computer grounded in ideas

from 1700�s & 1800�s

ØTechnology became available in the 1940�s and 1950�s

ØThe �user� concept is relatively new

Fall 2019

History of HCIØ Mechanical Computers http://www.thocp.net

Ø 1623 Schickard makes "Calculating Clock".

6-digit machine can add, subtract, bell indicates overflow.Ø 1674 Leibniz designs his "Stepped Reckoner�

Can multiply, with operands of up to 5 and 12 digits.User turns a crank for each unit in each digit

Ø 1820 de Colmar makes "Arithmometer�

First mass-produced calculator. Does multiplication & division. It is also the most reliable calculator yet. Continue to be sold for about 90 years.

Ø 1889 Felt invents the first printing desk calculator.

Ø 1935 IBM introduces "IBM 601", punch card machine

capable of 1 multiplication /second. 1500 are made. Ø 1945 Mauchly & Eckert "ENIAC� for ballistics.

30 tons, 1000 ft2 of floor, 140 kilowatts of electricity, 17,468 vacuum tubesØ Enigma: German coding machine in WWII

Fall 2019

Batch ProcessingØComputer had one task,

performed sequentiallyØNo �interaction� between

operator and computer after starting the run

ØPunch cards, tapes for inputØSerial operations

Fall 2019

Paradigm Shifter: Vannevar Bush

Ø Postulated Memex devicev Stores all

records/articles/communicationsv Items retrieved by indexing, keywords,

cross references (now called hyperlinks)v (Envisioned as microfilm, not computer)

Ø Interactive and nonlinear components are key

Fall 2019

Mid 1960�sØTimesharing mode of computing

v Computers too expensive for individuals timesharing increased accessibility

v interactive systems, not jobsv text processing, editingv email, shared file system

Need for HCIFall 2019

Paradigm Shifter: J.R. Licklider

Ø1960 - Postulated �man-computer symbiosis�

ØCouple human brainsand computing machinestightly to revolutionizeinformation handling

Fall 2019

Paradigm Shifter: Ivan Sutherland

ØSketchPad - �63 PhD thesis at MITv Hierarchy - pictures & subpicturesv Master picture with instances (ie, OOP)v Constraintsv Iconsv Copyingv Light pen for inputv Recursive operations

Fall 2019

Computers as ToolkitsØMultipurpose toolkitsØAbstracting out common tasks (tools)ØReusable elementsØAt the disposal of humans

Fall 2019

Paradigm Shifter: Douglas Engelbart

ØLandmark system/demo:v Mouse, windowsv Hypertextv Multimediav High-res display, v Shared files, CSCW,v Electronic messaging, teleconferencing, ...

ØInventor of mouseFall 2019

Paradigm Shifter: Alan Kay�Personal Computing�

ØDynabook: Notebook sized computer loaded with multimedia and can store everything

ØDesktop interface metaphor

Fall 2019

Paradigm Shifter: Ted NelsonØComputers can help

people, not just business

ØCoined term �hypertext�

Fall 2019

Personal ComputersØ1974 IBM 5100 Ø1981 DatamasterØ1981 IBM XT/AT

v Text and command-basedv Sold lotsv Performed lots of tasks the

general public wanted donev A good basic toolkit

Ø1978 VisiCalcFall 2019

Personal ComputingØSystem is more powerful if

it’s easier to useØSmall, powerful machines

dedicated to individualØImportance of networks

and time-sharingØTime names �The Computer� Man of the

Year, 1982 (http://www.time.com/time/special/moy/1982.html)

Fall 2019

WIMPØWindows, Icons, Menus, PointersØTimesharing=multiusers; now we need

multitaskingØWIMP interface allows you to do

several things simultaneouslyØHas become the familiar GUI interfaceØXerox Alto, Star; early Apples

Fall 2019

PCs with GUIsØXerox PARC - mid 1970�sØAlto

v local processor, bitmap display, mouse

v Precursor to modern GUI,windows, menus, scrollbars

v LAN - ethernet

Fall 2019

Xerox Star - �81Ø First commercial PC designed for�business professionals�v desktop metaphor, pointing, WYSIWYG,

consistency and simplicityØ First system based on usability

v Paper prototyping and analysisv Usability testing & iterative refinement

ØCommercial flopv $15k costv closed architecturev lacking key functionality (spreadsheet)

Fall 2019

Apple Macintosh - �84ØAggressive pricing - $2500ØNot trailblazer, smart copierØGood interface guidelinesØ3rd party applicationsØHigh quality graphics

and laser printer

Fall 2019

MultimodalityØMode is a human

communication channelv Not just the senses

e.g., speech and non-speech audio are two modes

ØEmphasis on simultaneous use of multiple channels for I/O

Fall 2019

Speech, Language?ØActions do not always speak louder

than wordsØInterface as mediator or agentØLanguage paradigmØHow good does it need to be?

v �Tricks�, vocabulary, domainsØHow �human� do we want it to be?

v (HAL, Bob, PaperClip, Siri, Alexa)

Fall 2019

Modern-Day UbiquityØPerson is no longer user of virtual

device but occupant of virtual, computationally-rich environment

ØCan no longer neglect macro-social aspects

ØLate �90s - PDAs, VEs, ...Ø2000�s - mobile phones, smartphonesØNow?…Social impacts: police, travel,

protest, concerts, sportsFall 2019

UpcomingØFrameworks for thinking about HCIØUser Centered Design ProcessØUsability Principles ØBad Designs, and the Design Process

ØWIKIØProject teams and ideas

Fall 2019