Interaction and Mental Involvement

Abstract

The development of HCI design and evaluation methodology throughout this and the companion books has emphasized the treatment of user and computer as a combined system. Words like “partnership” and “synergism” are employed, and interdependence between the two information processors is stressed repeatedly. At times it probably sounds akin to a marriage, whether voluntary or forced, between two rather dissimilar entities. The cause-and-effect model makes clear that the enabling and constraining factors of the two, in combination, have determining effects on the feasibility of creating interface features and achieving desirable levels of performance. In other words, for the union to work out with reasonable success, both have to do their parts; both must be prepared and participate in the interaction.