Introduction

There are many ways in which a module called 'Human–Computer Interaction' (HCI) could be presented. This is not merely a matter of differences in presentation: the discipline is so large that difficult choices have to be made about what to include and what to exclude, and, of the material that is included, how much relative detail to provide. Furthermore, people working in HCI (Human–Computer Interaction) have their own particular research interests and expertise which reflect the way they view the discipline. The course text edited by Preece is the nearest book we have found which has a general coverage of the discipline, but this is achieved by a team of six, each with their own specialisms. The other course text, by Nielsen provides excellent coverage of the practical application of HCI methods in system design.

Although we draw upon Preece and Nielsen at various points in the module, the structure and content we have chosen reflects our own particular view of the discipline. Overall our aim is to provide you with sufficient knowledge to make your own way in HCI, whether it be in research or in the commercial world. In this topic we explain the overall structure of the module and then provide some insights into what HCI is all about. First, meet the authors.