An Elephant Called HCI: The Perceptions in India
Dr. Dinesh S. Katre
An Elephant Called HCI: The Perceptions in India
Dr. Dinesh S. Katre
An Elephant Called HCI: The Perceptions in India
Dr. Dinesh S. Katre
An Elephant Called HCI
The popular metaphor of 'the elephant being perceived by many blind persons' is very well applicable to Human Computer Interface/Interaction (HCI). But in case of HCI the problems are multi-sensory, multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional. Hence, in this case, one can visualize a slightly modified version of this metaphor with several blind, deaf, dumb, numb and all kinds of handicaps (or to put it positively, people with one kind of strength) trying to perceive the elephant called HCI. The modified version of this metaphor highlights that a person cannot be equally good in all the disciplines that HCI encompasses. The community is perceiving it differently due to one sided view, limited exposure, domain specific angle, prejudiced view or confused view of HCI. There is a gross unavailability of focused education programs to teach HCI in India. The subject is merely discussed in workshops and seminars that are helpful in sensitizing the audiences. As a result, HCI is perceived in many different ways by those who are exposed to it. With a very positive intention, these perceptions are briefly narrated below for the researchers and usability professionals.
Perceptions in India
HCI and usability have become the popular buzzwords, which many people desire to identify with (In reality, they might have just heard about HCI and found it very trendy!). This is primarily due to emerging job opportunities, dog-eat-dog competition in IT industry or in every other industry for that matter. People also have a superficial belief that HCI does not require training or special skills (the minimum eligibility crierion is to be born as a human!). Many IT companies perceive that software usability process is a fad like ISO and CMM, which must be complied with because it is the current fashion in developed countries. Some are attracted to it because you can charge the customer more for fancy things like context study and affinity maps. Some feel that it is just a new terminology to be used while discussing user interfaces. Some believe that it re-designates 'graphic designer' as 'usability expert' or 'HCI designer'. Industrial designers feel that software is just another kind of product and therefore they can design it. And the best thing is that it does not require to study the materials. Some people also feel that maintaining the log of most visited web pages is HCI and their webmaster is already good at it. Extensions of HCI into core technology development and ubiquitous solutions are very little known in India. Many people have a restricted view of interface design at skin level. It is the cosmetic work you do just before the launch of software product. The government funding agencies in India wonder about what HCI has to do with engineering and technology? They strongly believe that social sciences have nothing to do with technology development. For them serious technology development is to write several lines of complex code. Some people think that it authorizes you to keep a secret camera in the users' workplace and to gossip about what they do. Some companies believe that Usability Processes can be institutionalized. Some academicians think that HCI is a good subject for long unending discussions and debates. Some technology developers think of the most futuristic view to close the debate on HCI by arguing that with speech recognition technologies no visual interfaces will be necessary.
To be born as a human is not enough
to become an HCI Expert, there is much more to it!
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