Being Human

Following a recent talk by Richard Harper from Microsoft at Dundee University, I was prompted to read his book "Being Human : Human-Computer Interaction In The Year 2020". His lecture was also based on his book, and although was interesting, I wanted to read into some of the points he made in more depth.

The issues explored in his book are concerned with how the ever growing prominence of technology affects us today, and more so, in the year 2020. It examines technical and social issues which will need to be given increasing consideration in order to utilise these technological advancements to their full potential.

It also touches on the point that the next generation of elderly people will be increasingly computer literate and technology savvy. This is of course very relevant to the project Unbox Design is doing with Microsoft. However, I do wonder about the level of technological literacy that the likes of my mum's generation will have. Will they be comfortable with current technology or that that has been developed by then, which may have changed radically?

Harper puts forward that we are at "the end of interface stability...what an interface might be, where it is, what it allows, is there one at all?" Harper goes on to say that these interfaces should be "disappearing into the richness and complexity of the world around us." I agree with both of these insights, and believe that less really will be more. However, it is also vital that we consider the appropriateness of embedded devices. It does bring up this point later in the book when Harper write "If everything we see, touch or walk past is interactive, how will we know and control how to inter act?"

This leads ominously into the realm of "extreme connectivity". This term strikes fear into me, as the distinction between home and work is increasingly blurred (is this post work or play?!). We have more and more digital friends whom we may have never met in real life. But surely real communication uses all of the senses and the need for this can not be fulfilled by digital relationships. Similarly, we are communicating more and more and at an increasing pace, but at what cost? What are we saying, and are we less intimate?

One of the most interesting points made in this book is that of the importance of memories, of the lack of them. "Memories tend to fade over time and change through interpretation. Digital records are more static, tending to persist in a stable form. Many systems are built on the assumption that the more data we capture the better. In contrast, humans place great value on being selective in what they remember." There is surly the basis for a brilliant project here!

Overall, I enjoyed "Being Human" a lot, and found it more interesting than Richard Harper's original talk. There are many other great points in the book so go and read it yourself and see what you think. Better still tell me what you think! If you have a comment to make on this book of any point made, please post a comment below.

Paddy