Book Reading #3 - HCI Remixed

Chapter 1: My Vision Isn't My Vision: Making a Career Out of Getting Back to Where I Started 
Author: William Burton
Venue: Microsoft Research, Toronto, Canada


Summary:
This article describes one of the first music making software application.  The beauty of it was that it was so simple that any novice could walk up and instantly know how to use the software.  


Discussion:
Overall, this piece was interesting to me.  It was amazing to me that something like this was created so long ago.  The article drives home the importance of usability. 

Chapter 4: Drawing on SketchPad: Reflections on Computer Science and HCI
Author: Joseph A. Konstan
Venue: University of Minnesota, USA


Summary:
The SketchPad, a much more complex application than Chapter 1, is discussed in this article.  The author asserts how designers need to not only think about applications for generic users, but also design more complex applications such as the SketchPad.  


Discussion:
I thought it was interesting reading this entry right after reading how designs should be made more intuitive rather than complex.  Overall I thought it was an ok article. 

Chapter 5: The Mouse, the Demo, and the Big Idea 
Author: Wendy Ju
Venue: Stanford University, CA


Summary:
The author recollects her experiences with the demo of the mouse, "The Mother of All Demos." She explains how that demo was so radical that it was made Engelbart's demo legendary and out of this world. That demo reshaped the entire world of demos. 


Discussion:
I thought this entry was interesting. I've never really thought about how things that seem simple now used to be radical ideas. 

Chapter 18: Observing Collaboration: Group-Centered Design 
Author: Saul Greenberg
Venue: University of Calgary, Canada


Summary:
This article discusses groupware development.  John Tang described observed group behavior and outlined principles that needed to be present in group shared space, such as orientation, proximity, and simultaneous access.  From Tang's observations, Saul Greenberg created several lines of software for group drawing use.


Discussion:
Overall, I thought this was somewhat bland.  It all seemed intuitive.  It reminded me of Microsoft's Surface, which proved to be the most interesting thought I had while reading this.

Chapter 20: Taking Articulation Work Seriously
Author: Geraldine Fitzpatrick
Venue: University of Sussex, Brighton, UK


Summary:
This article discussed computer software cooperative work, or CSCW.  The author discusses how it is still important today even though it can be overlooked.


Discussion:
Dear Lord this was boring.  This seemed little more than a poor explanation of CSCW and how it is still important today. I'm glad to be done reading it.

Chapter 23: Video, Toys, and Beyond Being There 
Author: Brian K. Smith
Venue:Penn State University, USA


Summary:
Brian Smith discusses the concept of "Beyond Being There," a term meant to signify technology that is better than actually being present. Although certain technology, like IM and Basecamp mentioned in this article, can help augment communication, nothing has replaced physically being there yet. The author uses his mother, who began chemotherapy, being able to interact with her granddaughter until the mother passes away.

Discussion:
Sad story but a good story. I realized how much we use technology even in normal communication while reading this article.  I liked this one.