Random Thoughts by M.A.: February 2016

For one of my PhD classes this semester, I need to produce an artistic representation of what the field of Human-Centered Computing (HCC) means to me. During the past week, I have gone through many different iterations of possible representations of the field of HCC. However, I found it difficult to get started.

I finally decided that the best tools for conveying how I see the world of HCC were the very ones I am currently conducting my research on: the Internet, social media, blogs, the written word and, best of all, GIFs.

Without further ado, I give you, THE WORLD OF HCC...

... ACCORDING TO MICHAELANNE

Let's start with a high-level view of this world. According to Wikipedia (yes, I'm using Wikipedia and if you doubt the validity of Wikipedia, please read this), the field of Human-centered computing (HCC) "studies the design, development, and deployment of mixed-initiative human-computer systems" and has "emerged from the convergence of multiple disciplines that are concerned both with understanding human beings and with the design of computational artifacts."

From my perspective, human beings and technology are intimately intertwined.

Technological artifacts are deeply embedded in our lives.

Therefore, it is crucial to seek to understand the interplays between technology and people as well as the multiple contexts that affect and are affected by them, including, social, historical, political, and cultural.

How do we do this? From an interdisciplinary approach that includes theories and methods from multiple fields including but not limited to, psychology, sociology, computer science, communication studies and..... that's right....

Some of the main theories, frameworks, and methods employed by HCC include:

ACTIVITY THEORY

DISTRIBUTED COGNITION

LEGITIMATE PERIPHERAL PARTICIPATION

However, since the study of people and technology is so complex, it is necessary for practitioners to narrow their research focus. Let's travel to a specific country within the world of HCC called, Social Computing.

Social computing is concerned with the social aspect of people and their behavior through the study of how individuals interact and collaborate online.

There are many areas within social computing including social media, social networking, social perceptions, crowdsourcing, gaming, collective intelligence, and many more.

Let's travel to a specific state on the coast of the country of social computing called social media. Within the state of social media exists many different counties and cities. One of the biggest of these is Facebook.

I focus on this site because it's central to my work... but before we discuss that more...

Let's zoom out once again to the world of HCC in order to sail across the sea to the country of Information Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD).

ICTD is mainly concerned with the study of information and communication technologies and how they affect disadvantaged populations around the globe, usually in developing countries. ICTD explores issues such as human rights, international development, and poverty reduction through the use of ICTs.

In my view, between these two countries there is an island called, Michaelanne's Research. Currently, there are bridges under construction that connect to the countries of Social Computing and ICTD.