Comments from instructors who used the second edition were influential
in my revisions of the structure. Since many courses include design, evaluation,
and construction projects, the chapters on development methodologies, evaluation
techniques, and software tools were moved toward the beginning. Since direct
manipulation is the dominant user-interface style, it is presented first,
followed by menus, form fillin, and command languages. The material on
computer-supported cooperative work has changed dramatically as research
ideas and prototypes have become commercial tools. Information visualization
is still in its early phases, but vigorous research and emerging commercial
activity are widespread. The closing chapter on the rapidly growing World
Wide Web is totally new.
Instructors wanted more guidelines and summary tables; these elements
are now shown in boxes throughout the book. The Practitioner Summaries
and Researcher Agendas remain popular; they have been updated. The references
have been expanded and freshened with many new sources, with classic papers
still included. Because some of the previously cited works were difficult
to find, a much larger percentage of the references now are widely available
sources. Figures-especially those showing screen designs-age quickly. In
this edition, numerous new user interfaces are shown, many in full color.
Readers will see the dynamism of human-computer interaction reflected
in the substantial changes to this third edition. Controversy continues
about the future of speech input and output, natural-language interaction,
anthropomorphic design, and agents. I emphasize empirical reports, try
to present both sides fairly, and offer my opinions.
 |
Please send
comments and suggestions to the Booksite
Director
Last Updated: 02 March 2001
|
 |
