>From the Introduction:
What is activity theory and how will it benefit studies of human computer
interaction? This book is intended to address these questions. Many HCI
researchers are eager to move beyond the confines of traditional cognitive
science, but it is not clear exactly which direction to move in. This set
of papers presents one alternative for HCI research: activity theory, a
research framework and set of perspectives originating in Soviet psychology
in the 1920's.
Activity theory is a powerful and clarifying descriptive tool rather than a
strongly predictive theory. The object of activity theory is to understand
the unity of consciousness and activity. Activity theory incorporates
strong notions of intentionality, history, mediation, collaboration and
development in constructing consciousness. Understanding the
interpenetration of the individual, other people and artifacts in everyday
activity is the challenge activity theory has set for itself.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Context and Consciousness: Activity Theory
and Human Computer Interaction
Bonnie A. Nardi, Ed.
The MIT Press
Cambridge, Massachusetts
London, England
Figures
Preface
Part I: Activity Theory Basics
Introduction
Bonnie A. Nardi
1 Activity Theory and Human Computer Interaction
Bonnie A. Nardi
2 Activity Theory as a Potential Framework for Human Computer Interaction
Research Kari Kuutti
3 Computer-Mediated Activity: Functional Organs in Social and Developmental
Contexts
Victor Kaptelinin
4 Studying Context: A Comparison of Activity Theory, Situated Action Models
and Distributed Cognition
Bonnie A. Nardi
5 Activity Theory: Implications for Human Computer Interaction
Victor Kaptelinin
Part II: Activity Theory in Practical Design
Introduction
Bonnie A. Nardi
6 Designing Educational Technology: Computer-Mediated Change
Rachel Bellamy
7 Applying Activity Theory to Video Analysis: How to Make Sense of Video
Data in HCI Susanne Bxdker
8 Tamed by a Rose: Computers as Tools in Human Activity
Ellen Christiansen
9 Joint Attention and Co-construction of Tasks: New Ways to Foster
User-Designer Collaboration
Arne Raeithel and Boris Velichkovsky
10 Some Reflections on the Application of Activity Theory
Bonnie A. Nardi
Part III: Activity Theory: Theoretical Development
Introduction
Bonnie A. Nardi
11 Activity Theory and the View from Somewhere: Team Perspectives on the
Intellectual Work of Programming
Dorothy Holland and James Reeves
12 Developing Activity Theory: The Zone of Proximal Development and Beyond
Vladimir P. Zinchenko
13 Mundane Tool or Object of Affection?: The Rise and Fall of the Postal Buddy
Yrjo Engestrvm and Virginia Escalante
14 Epilogue
Bonnie A. Nardi
Contributors
Index
**********
Bonnie A. Nardi
Advanced Technology Group
Apple Computer
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
phone:+1-408-974-8708 fax: +1-408-974-8414
http://www.atg.apple.com/personal/Bonnie_Nardi/