A conceptualisation of human-computer interaction

An extension is given of a conceptualisation of human-computer interaction presented by G. Storrs (1989). In developing this conceptualisation, the intention is to help move towards the creation of a theory of HCI. The author discusses the requirements for such a theory and describes the proposed conceptualisation. This conceptualisation involves expressing a view of what are the essential entities of the theory´s domain and how these entities are related. The most important concepts in the domain of HCI are those of participant, interaction, task, environment, purpose and interface. A top-level statement of the relationships between these entities is: `Any interaction takes place through interfaces and involves two or more participants who each have purposes for the interaction´