Some celebratory HCI reflections on a celebratory HCI festschrift
John B. Long · Interacting with Computers · 2009
‘And so I face the final curtain, Regrets I’ve had a few’ (Sinatra); but on celebratory reflection: ‘Non, rien de rien, Non, je ne regrette rien’ (Piaf). Festschrifts are meant to be celebratory (Wikipedia, 2009). My reflections too. First, I celebrate the very idea of an HCI festschrift. A bit premature perhaps; but better early, than too late, and it will serve to encourage others. Congratulations, then, to Alistair and Ann, along with Diane, the IWC publishers and the festschrift authors for making it happen. I am very touched. However, this festschrift cannot be of the traditional kind. HCI is still in its early stages. Trends and visions continue to come and go. The field is too immature for any consensus agreement to celebrate individual contributor’s legacies to HCI discipline progress. In this respect, it does not help, that my own work has been intimately bound up for 30 years with that of colleagues. First, from the MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge (MRC/APU), then from the Ergonomics and HCI Unit at University College London (EU/UCL). Even reflecting on one’s own festschrift might be considered unusual by some (again, all credit to the editors).