From designing computer systems to suit people’s working habits to new interactive television services, Professor Stephen Payne will discuss how his research combines an understanding of the human mind with the design of interactive systems, in a free public lecture at the University of Bath (Wednesday 9 June).
Professor Payne studies human-centric systems in the University’s Department of Computer Science. His inaugural lecture is entitled The cognitive science of human-computer interaction.
He describes cognitive science as an approach to the understanding of the human mind as a computer and human-computer interaction as trying to inform the design of interactive systems through an understanding of human psychology. He believes the two should be closely interlinked.
As part of his research Professor Payne is investigating how information workers manage multiple-tasks, with a view to better supporting this work pattern through technology.
Professor Payne said: “This lecture will review ideas and experiments that show how people exploit interactive media when solving problems; how they construct approximate mental models to support such problem solving; how these models are formed during exploratory learning and how interfaces may support the development of models by encouraging reflection during exploration. Finally I will consider how people manage attention when multiple problem-solving tasks must be completed.”
The inaugural lecture will be held on Wednesday 9 June at the Claverton campus in lecture theatre 8 West 3.22 at 6.15pm. Free tickets are available from the Department of Computer Science. Please email the administrator or call 01225 383647.