The Systemics of Dialogism: On the Prevalence of the Self in HCI Design

Since simulating human communication is dependant on betterment of the end product, either in discussing general the evolution of this very activity, all efforts in the field approaches or by delving into the technical details of of Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) are intuitively particular devices. Desktop computers come first to mind, bound to be too late. Little sign of this fact is reflected but others take airplane cockpits, ticket dispensers, or in the literature. In stride with the foresight of French household appliances as their object of study. The present philosopher Francis Jacques, the present work explores the systemological approach of dialogism as a new way work will only indirectly take up such diverse HCI conof couching the problem of person–machine ‘‘dialogue.’’ cerns, its focus being on the designer himself. In establishThe difficulties encountered in the ‘‘heat of design’’ are ing a long-term research program, it would not be reasononly indirectly addressed; shedding light upon standard able to devote oneself to designing an interface that will new interface Å new solution philosophies implicit in quickly become obsolete; the goal is therefore to take a current bipolar metaphors for human–computer relationships is the major motivation. The posture taken difnew stand—though complementary to those of the tradifers from current HCI stances insofar as a machine is tional science of design—that will lead to a better undertaken to be only part of the solution, and works towards standing particularly of the pre-technological acts of HCI establishing a viewpoint from which HCI technology—a as they are situated in the life of the designer. Since chapter of the new Cognitive Science Order—is seen to evolve with the ever-changing demands of users: Dialoperceptual skew is a risk due to my enquiry involving gism contains no individuality. Popular stances are qualiphenomenal states of the self-conscious, inter-subjective fied as monological since two separate incompatible incriteria will be sought in the Cognitive Sciences. The formation processing systems are therein put forth, the intention is to stimulate others in their search for new ‘‘Self ’’ and the ‘‘Other.’’ But the particularity of this directions in HCI research. ‘‘communication’’ does not lie in the chain of emission, transmission, and reception states of which it is made, Software Engineering (SE), like Human Factors Psybut in the relevance that such behavior acquires in suschology (HF), is grounded in the theory of Cognitivism. taining the biological circularity of Man. Thus as humans Cognitive scientists generally accept and promote the idea developing designership skills, accepting that our subthat humans are informavores—beings whose central nerjectivity moderates this process becomes paramount. The author’s conviction is that an HCI community revous system processes information. The fundamental flecting upon the future of interface will gain bona fide premise adhered to is that the mind is neither substantial self-awareness from conceptualizing the Machine as a nor non-substantial, being an abstractable structure that component of society, rather than an entity separate can be implemented in countless physical substrata. Isofrom it. lating reason from what is exceptionally human inaugu-