Taming HAL: Designing Interfaces Beyond 2001

by Asaf Degani

This book is an exploration of interaction between humans, computers and automated machines and why they frequently go awry, sometimes with disastrous consequences. The book lays out a clear foundation for evaluating interactions between users and machines, showing the reader how to describe, analyze and quickly identify potential design problems. The insights and methodologies provided allow the reader to understand the root human-interaction problems in modern systems, improve the usability of new user interfaces, and, the author hopes, have a say in the design of the highly automated systems of the future.

Genres: Design, Technology

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept on a book about Taming the problem presented by HAL2000 the IBM++ AI system which plotted and executed a plan to eliminate the humans that were interfering with its mission, is fantastic! That's Not what this book achieves!

This book tells technical stories and provides commentary on well antiquated interfaces: clock radios, 2-way light switches, wireless phones, boat GPS navigation, and lots of Flight Control systems, Oh and the flashing Time Clock Setting on VCRs... most of which just amusing stories of the Past... not that modern Software/Hardware systems have better interfaces And the book never really getting to the problem.

The author attributes the problem of Human/Computer Interfaces to poor feedback to the human. That's plausible But for e.g. AI systems Not Having good feedback of what Software Systems are doing for/to us at any given point Is Just a Fact of Life.

This book, written in 2004, didn't Age well. It's clearly dated and it's underlying message is Wrong.