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Call for papers


IFIP TC 13 "Human-Computer Interaction" organises in conjunction 
with INTERACT 2001 a workshop on:

"Computer Mediated Human-Work Interaction in Dynamic Domains"

July 9, 2001, Tokyo, Japan

INTRODUCTION 

Technology is changing human work in many re-spects: Increasing 
automation, integrated systems, interfaces inserted between collaborating 
individuals, advanced communication networks, small and large scale 
distributed systems, embedded technologies and so forth. Concurrently, 
the evolution toward dynamic work has led to an intensive demand for 
communication, collaboration, and problem solving. Large information 
spaces, variability, discretion, learning and information seeking are 
common. Under these circumstances, the primary issue is not the study 
of the use of a particular computer application. Design for dynamic work 
cannot be based solely on bottom up empirical experiments with task 
applications. The primary problem is instead how we can understand and 
conceptualise work that changes dynamically. How can we support 
computer mediated work in large problem spaces that is flexible enough 
to cope with the needs of individual and collaborating actors, who must 
adapt to dynamic work activities? The complexity of this problem calls for 
cross-disciplinary, theoretical approaches that focus on Human-Work 
Interaction, meaning that technology mediates the interaction between 
humans and the work content in a specific context.

Theoretical conceptualisations of Human-Work Interaction are required, 
but they must be developed in close connection with empirical studies of 
work. Focus must be on the problems and needs encountered in the work 
domains in which new technologies are introduced. Experimental design of 
prototypes is a necessary component of the iterative process of work
studies, 
design and evaluation. Consistent conceptualisations and theoretical 
approaches will also provide results that are valid beyond single
experiments, 
which can be generalised to other work contexts. A Human-Work Interaction 
approach requires a tight cross-disciplinary co-operation and fertilisation 
as well as compatible paradigms in the involved disciplines.


OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the workshop are to:

- Direct attention to the challenges dynamic work poses to design of 
computer - mediated work.

- Identify crucial theoretical and empirical research issues raised by the 
requirements inherent in dynamic work and the opportunities offered 
from new techno-logies.

- Establish a network of researchers working with these problems.


BACKGROUND

A Center for Human - Machine Interaction has been established at 
Risø National Laboratory, Aarhus University and Aalborg University, 
Denmark, to undertake research in Human-Work Interaction. The involved 
disciplines are human sciences, information and media science, 
computer science, engineering and psychology. The aim is to bring together 
theories, empirical findings and technical possibilities and further develop

Human-Work Interaction research. Through a cross-disciplinary 
collaboration involving Cognitive Systems Engineering, Activity Theory 
and Computer Semiotics, the Center conducts field studies in complex work 
domains and develops prototypes. The three approaches represented 
in the Center come from a different tradition and from different
disciplines, 
and thus emphasise different aspects of work.

Activity Theory contributes its emphasis on the mediating role of 
computer-based artefacts in human work. The theory is a means for 
analysing the mul-tiple aspects of the nature of artefacts in the web of 
human activity. It further yields important concepts for understanding the 
historical, social and material context in which the artefacts are created
and 
used, and for understanding artefacts in organisational work activity. 

Cognitive Systems Engineering offers a comprehensive framework for cognitive

work  analysis  that captures both the domain characteristics and the
adaptive 
features of human behaviour  in dynamic work. Related to the framework are 
principles for coupling the work analysis to design of Ecological
Information 
Systems. It also provides a framework for evaluation, and a taxonomy of 
work domains to be used in maps to support designers' work. 

Computer semiotics studies the nature and use of signs. To some degree it 
is a meta-science since specific types of signs, such as oral language,
texts, 
movies, pictures, gestures, etc., are the subject of special disciplines.
Semiotics 
collect what is common to such diverse types of signs, and define concepts 
that apply to all varieties. It sees computer applications as media and is
mainly 
concerned with problems of humans' interpretation and creation of meaning  
and design of interface representations.

The Center conducts field studies guided by these theoretical approaches 
in work domains with large information spaces, collaboration and 
communication, and dynamically changing work. 

At the workshop, the Center's approaches to studies of Human-Work 
Interaction and prototype designs in dynamic work will be presented.


TOPICS ADDRESSED AT THE WORKSHOP

The need for approaches to understand and conceptualise complex, 
dynamic work involving collaborating individuals in a cultural, 
organisational and technological context naturally follows from the 
evolution of work and the technological innovations. In dynamic 
work a stream of unanticipated events occurs. Procedures cannot cope 
with this, because procedures can only be devised for anticipated events. 
Individuals and collaborating actors must improvise and adapt quickly 
to new circumstances to maintain work goals such as productivity or 
safety. When automation cannot handle the situation in highly automated 
work, actors must play the role of problem solvers. If technology has 
to cope with situations that are beyond designers' foresight, it is 
necessary to "let the actors finish the design".


POSITION STATEMENTS

Position statements are invited on:

- Design of flexible technology that is able to support individuals 
and collaborating actors who have to adapt to dynamic work conditions.

- Theoretical approaches that make it possible to conceptualise and 
understand dynamic work.

- Field studies of dynamic work that can be used to conceptualise 
and understand how humans interact with their work.


FORM OF THE WORKSHOP

The organisers and members of the Center for Human - Machine 
Interaction will organise discussions based on the position 
statements solicited from the participants.  The organisers will make 
sure that empirical studies are used to exemplify different theoretical 
approaches to Human - Work Interaction. They will also address the 
question why the focus on Human-Work Interaction is important for 
design, and what can be gained from empirical studies of work that is 
guided by theoretical foundations. Participants will be asked to raise a 
maximum of three statements they want to discuss with their colleagues 
on the basis of very short presentations of their position papers. The 
workshop will allot ample time for discussion and conclude with a 
discussion of the participants' attitudes to a permanent forum that deals 
with problems and achievements in Human-Work Interaction research 
within the HCI community.

The organisers will report on the main statements from the participants 
on Human-Work Interaction in dynamic work, and other topics 
addressed by the par-ticipants of the workshop.

Accepted papers will be made available to the workshop participants 
before the conference. The participants will be asked to read the 
position papers in advance and relate their position paper to other
posi-tions. 


WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE

The target audience is researchers and practitioners who have worked 
with theories and practice, field studies of work, and IT design. 
Position papers will be selected on the basis of their relevance, quality
and 
ability to stimulate discussion. Maximum number of participants is 20.


OUTCOME

A workshop report will be produced after the workshop and elaborated 
papers will be published in an edited IFIP publication. Further, action 
will be taken to establish a working group on Human-Work Interaction, 
if there is support from the participants to do so.


SUBMISSIONS

Workshop participants should submit position papers 4-10 pages long no 
later than April 20, 2001. Please, send your position statement in Word 
or PDF format by e-mail to Annelise Mark Pejtersen: [log in to unmask] 
The submissions will be peer reviewed and the authors will be notified 
about acceptance/rejection by May 31, 2001.


ORGANISERS

Annelise Mark Pejtersen, Risø National Laboratory, Denmark, [log in to unmask]

Susanne Bødker, University of Aarhus, Denmark, [log in to unmask]

Peter Bøgh Andersen, Aalborg University, Denmark, [log in to unmask]


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