Interactive Technology: The Role of Passivity

1979 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold Thimbleby

Technology comes in many forms, in particular ‘interactive’ and ‘not-so interactive’. Not all so-called interactive systems are interactive technology: they are not ‘good’ enough. In contrast to typical modern technology, interactive technology is responsibly passive and thereby reduces the opportunity for its users to form incorrect or misguided models of its operation. Passivity is not solely a property of the system design but is relative to the needs and actions of the users of the technology; it depends on the skills, expectations and understanding of the users. As a guide to implementors, passivity also reduces their opportunities to create systems that are obscure to users. It is suggested that a ‘parallel user-interface’, which is outlined, meets the requirements of interactive technology.

Author(s):  
Kjeld Schmidt

The emergence of practice-centered computing (e.g., Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, or CSCW) raises the crucial question: How can we conceptualize the practices into which the prospective technology is to be integrated? How can we, reasonably, say of two observed activities or events that they are, or are not, instances of the same type? These are crucial questions. This chapter therefore attempts to clarify the concepts of “practice” and “technique.” First, since our ordinary concepts of “practice” and “technique” developed as part of the evolution of modern technology, as tools for practitioners’ and scholars’ reflections on the role of technical knowledge in work, the chapter outlines the major turning points in the evolution of these concepts, from Aristotle (via the scholastics), to enlightenment thinkers such as Diderot and Kant, and finally to Marx and Marxism. The chapter thereafter moves on to analyze the concepts as we use them today in ordinary discourse.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Nissen ◽  
Ella Tallyn ◽  
Kate Symons

Abstract New digital technologies such as Blockchain and smart contracting are rapidly changing the face of value exchange, and present new opportunities and challenges for designers. Designers and data specialists are at the forefront of exploring new ways of exchanging value, using Blockchain, cryptocurrencies, smart contracting and the direct exchanges between things made possible by the Internet of Things (Tallyn et al. 2018; Pschetz et al. 2019). For researchers and designers in areas of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Interaction Design to better understand and explore the implications of these emerging and future technologies as Distributed Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) we delivered a workshop at the ACM conference Designing Interactive Systems (DIS) in Edinburgh in 2017 (Nissen et al. 2017). The workshop aimed to use the lens of DAOs to introduce the principle that products and services may soon be owned and managed collectively and not by one person or authority, thus challenging traditional concepts of ownership and power. This workshop builds on established HCI research exploring the role of technology in financial interactions and designing for the rapidly changing world of technology and value exchange (Kaye et al. 2014; Malmborg et al. 2015; Millen et al. 2015; Vines et al. 2014). Beyond this, the HCI community has started to explore these technologies beyond issues of finance, money and collaborative practice, focusing on the implications of these emerging but rapidly ascending distributed systems in more applied contexts (Elsden et al. 2018a). By bringing together designers and researchers with different experiences and knowledge of distributed systems, the aim of this workshop was two-fold. First, to further understand, develop and critique these new forms of distributed power and ownership and second, to practically explore how to design interactive products and services that enable, challenge or disrupt existing and emerging models.


Author(s):  
Michael D Harrison ◽  
Paolo Masci ◽  
José Creissac Campos

Abstract This paper explores the role of formal methods as part of the user-centred design of interactive systems. An iterative process is described, developing prototypes incrementally, proving user-centred requirements while at the same time evaluating the prototypes that are executable forms of the developed models using ‘traditional’ techniques for user evaluation. A formal analysis complements user evaluations. This approach enriches user-centred design that typically focuses understanding on context and producing sketch designs. These sketches are often non-functional (e.g. paper) prototypes. They provide a means of exploring candidate design possibilities using techniques such as cooperative evaluation. This paper describes a further step in the process using formal analysis techniques. The use of formal methods provides a systematic approach to checking plausibility and consistency during early design stages, while at the same time enabling the generation of executable prototypes. The technique is illustrated through an example based on a pill dispenser.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4610
Author(s):  
Simone Berneschi ◽  
Giancarlo C. Righini ◽  
Stefano Pelli

Glasses, in their different forms and compositions, have special properties that are not found in other materials. The combination of transparency and hardness at room temperature, combined with a suitable mechanical strength and excellent chemical durability, makes this material indispensable for many applications in different technological fields (as, for instance, the optical fibres which constitute the physical carrier for high-speed communication networks as well as the transducer for a wide range of high-performance sensors). For its part, ion-exchange from molten salts is a well-established, low-cost technology capable of modifying the chemical-physical properties of glass. The synergy between ion-exchange and glass has always been a happy marriage, from its ancient historical background for the realisation of wonderful artefacts, to the discovery of novel and fascinating solutions for modern technology (e.g., integrated optics). Getting inspiration from some hot topics related to the application context of this technique, the goal of this critical review is to show how ion-exchange in glass, far from being an obsolete process, can still have an important impact in everyday life, both at a merely commercial level as well as at that of frontier research.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 422
Author(s):  
Niv Zmora ◽  
Eran Elinav

The soar in COVID-19 cases around the globe has forced many to adapt to social distancing and self-isolation. In order to reduce contact with healthcare facilities and other patients, the CDC has advocated the use of telemedicine, i.e., electronic information and telecommunication technology. While these changes may disrupt normal behaviors and routines and induce anxiety, resulting in decreased vigilance to healthy diet and physical activity and reluctance to seek medical attention, they may just as well be circumvented using modern technology. Indeed, as the beginning of the pandemic a plethora of alternatives to conventional physical interactions were introduced. In this Perspective, we portray the role of SmartPhone applications (apps) in monitoring healthy nutrition, from their basic functionality as food diaries required for simple decision-making and nutritional interventions, through more advanced purposes, such as multi-dimensional data-mining and development of machine learning algorithms. Finally, we will delineate the emerging field of personalized nutrition and introduce pioneering technologies and concepts yet to be incorporated in SmartPhone-based dietary surveillance.


2015 ◽  
pp. 1561-1565
Author(s):  
Jianjie Li ◽  
Xin Yang ◽  
Xunqiang Tao ◽  
Jie Tian

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Nasrul Fauzi ◽  
Ibnu Chudzaifah

Islam acts for its adherents to conduct studies on the behavior or forms of circulation and changes that occur, both in the context of the universe and those that occur between fellow humans, as well as the development of modern technology. In connection with this understanding, the requested discussion of Islam, the words requested by the Prophet Muhammad, required compulsory knowledge for Muslims. Islam contributes to science between other verses in the Qur'an which encourages Muslims to develop science. Islam through the Qur'an is the basis of epistemology and ideology for Muslim scientists who connect their attitudes and relationships to transcendence with the creator. Expect that there is a spiritual dimension in dzikir and fear for Allah. Muslim appreciation of the amazing knowledge of the early days of Islam. At this time Muslims were able to play a role and master various disciplines. Islamic Ummah has a very prominent role but has differences in politics and internal crises in involving thinking, the role of Muslims is declining and very alarming. The role of Islam in the development of science and technology adds there are two namely First, making Islamic Aqeedah a paradigm of science. The paradigm that represents Muslims, is not a secular paradigm as it is now. Second, making Islamic Islam (born from Islamic Aqeedah) as a standard for the use of science and technology in everyday life.


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