From Human Centered Design to Humanising Computers

My thoughts on Conversational UX

The very first use of the word “Computer” in recorded history is said to be in 1613⁽¹⁾. It was used to describe human who performed computations and calculations. This definition remained unchanged until the 19th century when we invented machines that could compute and calculate much faster than any human could.

So as the name itself suggests “compute”rs were mainly machines that could compute. We can go on about how the first computers evolved from “Differential Engine” by Charles Babbage (1822) to “Edsac”, the first stored program electric computer that ran the first graphical computer game nicknamed “Baby”, but we will leave that for some other post.

But what is important is that the whole industry was going to be turned around by the Mother of all Demos by Douglas Engelbart in 1968

Some of the things that Doug states in this demo are still greatly relevant about how computers can improve our lives, by building:

• Better Solutions
• Faster Solutions
• Solutions to more complex problems, with
• Better use of human capabilities

Eventually with any computer system we want to enhance human capabilities.

As Doug mentions:

Improve the effectiveness with which individuals and organisations work at intellectual tasks.

or

Develop a system oriented discipline for designing the means by which greater effectiveness is achieved.

In the video he mentions that the On Line System (NLS) was:

An instrument/Vehicle for helping humans to operate within the domain of complex information structures.

The computers were invented to help us navigate through this complex information structure.

Computers should allow us to compose…