HCI, natural science and design
Wendy E. Mackay, Anne‐Laure Fayard · 1997
Human-computer interaction is multidisciplinary, drawing paradi~ar$ techniques from both the natural sciences and the design disciplines.HCI cannot be considered a pure natural science because it studies the interaction betweett people and artificiaUy-created artifacts, rather than naturallyoccurring phenomena, which violates several basic assumptions of naturat seienee.Similarly,HCI cannot be eortsidered a pure design discipline because it strives to independently verify design decisions and processes, and borrows many value-s from scientists.The purpose of this paper is to provide a simple framework that describes how the research and design models underlying HCI can be integrated.We explore the relationships among these approaches in the context of a particular research site, CENA, the Centre d 6tudes de la Navigation A6rienne, and illustrate how the various disciplines ean contribute to a complex design problem: improving the interface to the French air traffic control system.The framework provides one perspective for understanding the various research approaches, and, more importantly, suggests new research directions.The resulting crossdisciphnary triangulation can increase the effectiveness of the individual maeareh and design approaches.