Why Activity Theory in HCI n Reaction against

Why Activity Theory in HCI? n Reaction against what was viewed as the limitations of HCI n n n 1 The role of the artefact poorly investigated or understood Focus on novice users Limited possibility to use task analyses to describe activity and terms for activity Focus on automatisation of routine tasks Focus on one user – one computer The view on the user as solely object of study 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Activity Theory n Sources: n n n Bertelsen/Bödker, course book chapter 11 Victor Kaptelinin Susanne Bödker Yrjö Engeström (”developmental work research” – CHAT) Origin: Culture-Historical school in former Soviet n n 1920 -30 Lev Vygotsky A. N. Leontjev A. R. Luria n n 2 ”The Making of Mind” (1976) ”. . . in order to have a theory of brain-behavior relations, it is necessary to have a theory of both the brain and behavior”. 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Dynamic system theory subject n n 3 tool object Activity: the minimal purposeful context for analysing human activity Is characterised by constant change = development Humans interact with (and change) their environment by using tools (language, other artefacts, symbols) Avoids dichotomies 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Two basic ideas n n 1) human’s consciousness develops, exists and can only be understood in the context of the human’s interaction with the world 2) this interaction – *activity* – is socially and culturally augmented “Man’s activity is the substance of his consciousness. ” Leontjev 1977 4 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Constructs of Activity Theory – 5 keys to understanding human activity n n n 5 Object orientedness Mediation Hierarchal structure of activity Internalisation – externalisation Development 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

tool Object subject n n n 6 object A human’s activity is oriented towards an object An entity that exists in the world and can be studied with objective methods Can be things or humans, theories, models, ideas, social or cultural phenomenon 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

tool Mediating tools subject n n n Tools form the way we interact with reality When external tools are shaped, internal are also shaped Tools mirror earlier users’ experiences n n 7 object The physical properties of the tool Knowledge about how the tool is to be used n Tools can be physical or psychological n The situation determines whether an artefact functions as a tool that mediates activity (not focus for the activity) or functions as an object for activity. A transformation can take place. . Tool object 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Hierarchal Structure of Activity n Activity (verksamhet) transformation n n Actions (aktivitet) n n n Performed consciously, goal-driven Consists of: Operations (operationer) n 8 Fulfills a motive, behind which a need exists. A person may not be aware of the need but the motive, or purpose Is identified by identifying what object the activity is directed towards that is to be modified/changed -> the motive Consists of: Performed without thought, do not have own goals 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Internalisation n 9 Externalisation Internal activities – cognition External activities (executed outside the body) can be internalised (ex calculation) n n transformation Verksamheten som helhet är viktig i denna process; tex motorisk aktivitet, användandet av artefakter Internal activities can be externalised for the purpose of involving others in the activity This continuous transformation is viewed as the base for human cognition and activity 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

The 5 constructs once again. . . n n n Activity is directed towards an object to be modified/changed Tools mediate activity Dynamic and hierarchal structure of activity n n n subject object Verksamhet (activity) Aktivitet (action) Operation (operation) Internalisation – externalisation of activity Development n n 10 tool Conflicts – ”breakdowns” ZPD 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

“design of a computer application is design of conditions for the whole use activity. ” Bödker 1999 n All keys are needed to understand the activity: n n n What is the activity? What is the object? What is the motive? What are the tools? (internal-external) How are the above-mentioned changed? (identify breakdowns) n . . . even if focus lies on one of the phenomenon, e. g. , the system as mediating tool in the use context. . . n Or was the system the object. . ? 11 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Development n What triggers these transformations? n Conflicts built into activity systems Changes in the environment n Changes in an individual’s abilities or resources n n 12 Causes ”breakdowns” -> transformations -> development, is viewed as something positive! Development is viewed as a general research methodology – ”formative experiment” ZPD – ”Zone of proximal development” 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Levels of development in an individual (only intresting in relation to an activity) Beyond ZPD Zone of Proximal Development - ZPD Autonomous / independent 13 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Engeström’s ”Activity System” Tool subject Rules / routines 14 object Society / work environment / team 2009 -01 -20 Outcome Division of labour Helena Lindgren

Contradictions (Engeström) n Types of contradictions n n 15 1) resources vs demands of results 2) Internally within the system 3) towards ”neighbour” activities 4) contradictions between how the activity is performed today and how it potentially may be performed in the future 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

”Web of activities” Tool producing activity Subject producing activity Future more developed central activity Rule producing activity Central activity 16 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Earlier projects: Examples – What is the activity? n 17 Volvo: Montering vs. lager 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Verksamhet: Montering Aktiviteter: montering av objekt A-Ö, beställning av fler objekt vid brist Operationer: skruva, ”skjuta”, hämta Handdator, monteringsverktyg, lista linjemontör 18 Hytt 2009 -01 -20 Färdig, felfri hytt Helena Lindgren

Verksamhet: Hantera material som ska levereras till linjen Aktiviteter: Ta emot beställningar, hämta varor, leverera varor, fylla på varor i lager, beställa varor från leverantörer Operationer: manövrera truck, dator, kolla streckkoder dator, truck, lista, kodnummer, vagnar Materialhantering truckförare 19 2009 -01 -20 Rätt material levereras i tid till minsta möjliga kostnad? Helena Lindgren

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Verksamhet: Systemförvaltning Aktiviteter: Uppdatera system, upprätta förvaltningsplan, identifiera informationsflöden Operationer: manövrera dator, applikationer, . . . n o i at m scheman Lotus-notes, pärm m förvaltningsplaner, kommunikationshjm, oregna f n i x o k v le p m Systemförvaltare a g erin s i l ua is V : M E L B O PR Regler 21 Systemägare, tekniker, användare 2009 -01 -20 Friktionsfri, säker 220 systemanvändning ute i verksamheter Organisation Helena Lindgren

The course from an activitytheoretical perspective verktyg subjekt regler / rutiner 22 objekt samhälle / arbetsplats 2009 -01 -20 resultat arbetsfördelning Helena Lindgren

”Crystallized” Activity Theory n Checklists n n Bödker (fig 11. 8) Korpela et al. (fig 11. 9) Focus and focus shift (fig 11. 10) Activity checklist n 23 Kaptelinin Victor, Nardi Bonnie, Macaulay C. The Activity Checklist: A Tool for Representing the “Space” of Context. Interactions, july, august 1999 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Contributions of Activity Theory to HCI n Extending the scope of HCI n n n 24 HCI needs to move focus from only ”human factors” towards the wider perspective ”human actors” Collective learning Knowledge generation Shift from byrocratic to dynamic organisations ”action research” Adding dynamic properties to previously over-simplified concepts like transparency, affordance, direct manipulation 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

Literature Tips n Bödker, Susanne (1989), "A human activity apporach to user interfaces", Human-Computer Interaction, Ch. 4, pp 171 -195. n Hasu Mervi, Engeström Yrjö (1999), "Measurement in Action: An Activity. Theoretical Perspective on Producer-User Interaction". http: //www. edu. helsinki. fi/activity/people/mervi. htm n Kaptelinin Victor, Nardi Bonnie, Macaulay C. (1999) “The Activity Checklist: A Tool for Representing the “Space” of Context”. Interactions, july, august, 1999 n Kaptelinin Victor, Nardi Bonnie. “Acting with Technology – Activity Theory and Interaction Design”. The MIT Press (2007) 25 2009 -01 -20 Helena Lindgren

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