Designing for Human-Agent Interaction
Michael Lewis · 1998
Interacting with a computer requires adopting some metaphor to guide our actions an xpectations. Most human-computer interfaces can be classified according to two r t dominant metaphors: agent or environment. Interactions based on an agent metapho reat the computer as an intermediary which responds to user requests. In the environd ment metaphor a model of the task domain is presented for the user to interact with irectly. The term "agent" has come to refer to automation of aspects of human com- . N puter interaction such as anticipating commands or autonomously performing actions orman's 1984 model of HCI is introduced as reference to organize and evaluate - i research in human-agent interaction. A wide variety of heterogeneous research involv ng human-agent interaction is shown to reflect automation of one of the stages of r action or evaluation within Norman's model. Improvements in HAI are expected to esult from more heterogeneous use of methods which target multiple stages simultaneously. Agent vs. Environment a Interacting with a computer requires adopting some metaphor to guide our action nd expectations. Most human-computer interfaces can be classified according to two r t dominant metaphors: agent or environment. Interactions based on an agent metapho reat the computer as an intermediary which responds to user requests. In the environd ment metaphor a model of the task domain is presented for the user to interact with irectly.