In Human-Computer Interaction: Psychology as a Science of Design, John Carroll asserts that HCI is the intersection between psychology and the social sciences as well as computer science and technology. John discusses the emergence of usability in the aspects of software psychology, iterative development, and user models and user-centered system development in the aspects of usability engineering, design rationale and cooperative activity.

John demonstrates that “HCI is a science of design. It seeks to understand and support human beings interacting with and through technology”. It also illustrates possibilities of psychology as a design science. The origins of HCI is software psychology, and it was proved to be problematic. It changed and improved over time, and it encouraged user participation in design. In the early day of HCI, “the notion that computer systems and software should be designed and developed with explicit consideration of the needs, abilities, and preferences of their ultimate users was not taken seriously”. However, after only a decade, the case had been made for a user-centered system development process, and it is a process in which usability was a primary goal.

HCI has a good future, as John mentioned the are continued to broaden. There is “obvious trend for HCI specialists to be promoted into project management”. It is interesting that the article mentioned a “design of a medical information system reintegrated the activity system of health professionals in a medical center, a hospital, and throughout the larger community by enabling a shared concept of total patient care, supported by electronic tools and new practices”. And decades later, that has been achieved. On the other hand, it needs to be systemically accommodated and managed. Also, a critique is about HCI may de-skilling and dis empowering workers.

John raised a lot of questions throughout the article and make readers think. I like the idea that “Human activities motivate the creation of new tools, but these in turn alter activities, which in time motivates further tools”. That’s the process of making progress.