SICS-Communication, Interaction, and Cognition Lesson

Communication, Interaction, and Cognition

Human computer interaction is the study of how humans interact with computers and how to design computer systems that are easy, quick, and productive for humans to use. It is also concerned with the consequences of using the system over time and its effects on the individual, group, and company. In the early days of computers, people interacted with the device through punch cards.  We have moved from the mouse and the keyboard to touchscreens and webcams. Most computing now is interactive with rapid feedback.  

Communication is the sharing of information. It involves giving and receiving messages from one or more people to one or more people. In the previous module, we learned how data is transferred through the Internet.

Before the Internet, people were limited in how they communicated. Communication occurred through phone calls, correspondence through mail, and face to face meetings. This limited social networks to certain geographic areas.

Computing innovations have changed the way people communicate on a global scale. With the advances in technology, we can communicate with people anywhere in the world.  

How We Communicate and Collaborate Activity

Complete the activity below.

Web as a Source of Information

The open access of the Internet provides a convenient way for people to communicate, share ideas, collaborate, and gain new knowledge. Newspapers, journals, and books can be accessed online. Public data, such as databases of temperature readings or databases of court cases, provides widespread access and enables solutions to identified problems. Trends of what people search for on the Internet are predictors of behavior. Social media, including blogs and Twitter, have enabled dissemination. Global Positioning System (GPS) and related technologies have changed how humans travel, navigate, and find information related to geo-location. Sensor networks facilitate new ways of interacting with the environment and with physical systems. Smart grids, smart buildings, and smart transportation are changing and facilitating human capabilities.

The way we interact with computers is an evolving process.  Since the introduction of the personal computer in 1981 interacting with the computer has become easier and more convenient due to the open access of the Internet and the many abstractions of different software programs. Computing has created faster ways for people to stay connected, communicate and interact with each other largely due to social media and cloud computing.    

In a future lesson, we will explore how these new ways could be beneficial and harmful to our society.

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