Contemporary Human-Computer Interfaces

In 2001 Lev Manovich quoted “Contemporary human-computer interfaces offer radical new possibilities for art and communication”(1)

Originally computer monitors were used for data processing and television receivers for entertainment. Nowadays the screen has rapidly becoming the main means of accessing any kind of information whether it is still images, moving images or text. We are now using it to read newspapers, watch movies and/or communicate with others.

The contemporary computer monitor has become a lot more dynamic and interactive and has allowed us to experience virtual reality. It has become a ‘window’ where we are able to enter other worlds and environments. Virtual Reality refers to the computer-generated artificial or synthetic environment that stimulates the user’s aural and visual perception (2). It is a human-computer interface where the computer creates a sensory immersing environment that interactively responds to and is controlled by the behaviour of the user (3).

Certain screens have additional characteristics that can further the user’s experience, such as the touch screen feature. Monitors with touch screen capabilities use ‘touching of the screen’ as an input method. Objects displayed on the screen can be selected, moved or activated with a finger and finger gestures can also be used to convey commands.

Screens have progressed even further since the touch screen was established. Recently featured on ACA was the Virtual Mirror, which they predict will be featured in future retail. ‘Ezface’ by IBM was one of the new technologies mentioned in the story.

Ezface is an augmented reality system that merges live video images with virtual or digital elements on the same screen (4). It allows customers to try on make-up ‘virtually’ rather than putting it onto their face, and helps them choose the product that suits them best. For instance, a customer could have their photo taken in a kiosk and their face will be captured and displayed on a computer screen. For this purpose, lets just say that the customer has a basket of make-up products in their shopping basket, which they selected from the shelves. Ezface gives them the facility to scan the product barcode for the screen to show them what the make-up product would appear like on their skin. The screen becomes the canvas for the customers to virtually test make-up on their own face.

Here is a YouTube clip that shows another example of future shopping using a clever human-computer interface.

It is obvious that screens are not only for the simple function of data processing anymore - they are all around us. We are inundated with human-computer interfaces and it has become a vital part of our everyday lives. I believe it is only a matter of time until the Virtual Mirror becomes an essential screen in future retail stores.

1. Manovich, Lev. (2001) The Language of New Media, Cambridge,Mass.; London:MIT Press. (‘The screen and the user’ pp. 94-115)

2. www.twinity.com/en/glossary. Last accessed: 12th September 2010

3. www.hitl.washington.edu/scivw/EVE/IV.Definitions.html Last accessed: 12th September 2010

4. http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=7947796 Last accessed: 12th September 2010

Open Source

Open source refers to the procedure in releasing and making the source code of a program available free to users and other program developers. They can then utilise and appropriately tailor the source code to suit their needs. Another name for open source would be “free software” as it can be obtained at no cost. Open source can be customised, modified and redistributed to fulfil the user’s needs and requirements; whether it is corporate, educational or personal. The foundation of open source is to share and permit everyone and anyone to analyse and modify the code if necessary. It is software that is relaxed or made free from copyright restrictions; therefore any public body has the right to lawfully obtain information by request or observation. There are no restrictions on the use or distribution by any organisation or user; some examples of open source include Linux, Apache, PHP and MySQL.

The philosophy of open source is the freedom of distribution within a community of programmers and the liberty to modify and improve the code. It is a free commodity due to the absence of copyright and patent laws. It is a method of launching a product where the material is accessible and shared by the community who creates and uses it. Rather than a proprietary secret, source codes are made complimentary for public to obtain, analyse, modify and further enhance.

Open source has given businesses the ability to achieve a more profound entrance into the software market. There are companies who offer open source software in order to establish an industry standard and secure an advantage in competitiveness. Developer loyalty has also prospered due to their sense of ownership of the completed product. Marketing and logistic expenses are not necessary for open source software, as a result companies have the aptitude to concentrate and invest in the technology developments to generate reliable, high quality software that is faster and more economical. There will also be greater potentials for technology flexibility and rapid innovations. Open source allows thousands of independent programmers to collaborate, test and repair errors found in software. This will of course better the quality of software due to the considerable collaboration of diverse users, programmers and other active individuals from an extensive range of backgrounds.

References:
Deitel & Associates. Internet & World Wide Web: How to Program. Third Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc, 2004