Designing computers with people in mind

Reviewer: Claudiu Popescu

The main idea of computer design is to be useful for all people, not only specialists. Three prototype applications are presented. First, the paper describes a project, called GloBall, which designed a human-computer interface starting from a child's requirements. Many problems appeared during the testing of the interface with users. Results of the study are presented. Next, the problems of HandiBoard, an interface for the handicapped developed in Sweden, are described. This device eases communication between these users and the rest of society. Finally, the authors present a medical application called Rosetta. The paper describes problems that are already known to the HCI community. Its importance is that it tests devices for various groups of ordinary people. No new conclusions are presented. It is not clear to me who the audience is. For specialists in HCI, the paper offers nothing new, while nonspecialists may find it difficult to read. The paper is correct, but without many new ideas.