mathew <mathew@mantis.co.uk> (05/01/91)
PLEASE READ THE SECTION MARKED "HOW TO VOTE" BEFORE VOTING.
CALL FOR VOTES: comp.human-factors
STATUS OF NEWSGROUP: unmoderated
PURPOSE/CHARTER:
To provide a forum for discussion of general issues relating to
human-computer interaction (HCI) and human factors.
HCI issues are currently discussed in a number of newsgroups, and are
relevant to discussions in:
alt.hypertext comp.infosystems
alt.toolkits.xview comp.multimedia
comp.cog-eng comp.software-eng
comp.graphics comp.windows.*
comp.groupware
HCI is an extremely broad topic. Examples of possible subjects for
discussion include:
* Design of keyboards, mice, joysticks.
* Choice of command names and parameter syntax, and the effect on
the number of mistakes users make.
* Design of effective symbols for communicating information.
* Control relations for scroll bars, switches and so on.
* Use of Agents for representing semi-autonomous processes.
* Use of colour in user interface design.
* Methods for prototyping user interfaces.
* How to evaluate the effectiveness of a user interface.
* Designing effective dialogues for interactive programs.
* Possible new forms of feedback -- sound, smell, touch.
* Customizability vs. stability.
At present, such discussions are scattered amongst the existing comp.*
groups.
WHAT THE NEWSGROUP IS *NOT*:
The newsgroup is NOT intended for discussion of topics specific to
particular window systems and not illustrating any general point; such
discussion should take place in the existing comp.windows groups. Nor is
it intended as a place where people can preach the virtues of their
favourite windowing system.
The newsgroup is also not intended for human-factors discussion which is
not relevant to the field of computing.
ABOUT THE NAME:
I initially suggested the name comp.hci. This was generally felt to be
an obscure acronym, so I held a poll to determine the most popular
alternative, out of:
comp.hci comp.human-factors
comp.chi comp.user-interface
comp.interaction none of the above
The poll was announced twice in various newsgroups including news.groups.
I received two replies; one suggesting comp.human-factors, with a
suggestion that perhaps the subject matter was relevant to a sci group; and
a joke reply suggesting a newsgroup named "none of the above". I also
received quite a bit of mail from people who wanted a group but weren't too
bothered by the name.
In view of the total lack of controversy regarding the name, I am changing
the proposed name to comp.human-factors (as preferred by 100% of those who
expressed a preference, including myself :-) but NOT going through another
round of discussions.
PLANNED SCHEDULE:
1991-05-01: First call for votes.
1991-05-15: Mass acknowledgement and second call for votes.
1991-05-30: Last day to vote.
HOW TO VOTE:
Send mail to:
Internet: vote@mantis.co.uk
UUCP: ...!mcsun!ukc!ibmpcug!mantis!vote
Your mail should contain exactly one of the following two quoted lines:
"I vote YES to comp.human-factors as proposed"
"I vote NO to comp.human-factors as proposed"
It is preferred that you use these forms to ease counting of the
votes, but any unamibuous vote will be counted. Conditional votes
("I vote yes if ...") will be bounced. Votes posted to the net will be
ignored. Votes sent to me personally rather than to the address given
above will be bounced.
I do not plan to send individual acknowledgements for votes received,
since we pay by the kilobyte for international mail.
Please feel free to crosspost this call for votes into any newsgroups
which you feel are appropriate.
mathew
--
Internet: mathew@mantis.co.uk / mathew%mantis.co.uk@ukc.ac.uk
UUCP: mathew@mantis.UUCP / ...!mcsun!ukc!ibmpcug!mantis!mathew