This book is an interesting compendium of current research issues in human‐computer interaction. It is loosely structured around two main themes of user interface design and intelligent agent technology, but also traverses XML document retrieval, hypermedia design, virtual reality and computer‐assisted surgery. The somewhat eclectic nature of the topics is both a strength and a weakness. Although this is not stated, the book reads as though it arose from a collection of conference papers, and it definitely lacks any overall thematic unity. There are minimal linkages between the chapters and little editorial effort devoted to drawing out common themes.
Putting this aside, it is an interesting read, and well worth browsing. Some of the chapters on intelligent agent technology are firmly rooted in artificial intelligence and may be somewhat impenetrable to readers without a background in this area. Similarly, other chapters require a background in areas such as cognitive modelling or hypermedia design to appreciate fully the research being presented. This means that, for most readers with an interest in human‐computer interaction, there is a reasonable chance that some of the chapters will be interesting and directly relevant, while others may have the effect of stimulating the reader to do more reading in some hitherto unexplored facets of human‐computer interaction.
One of the interesting points much of the content is “work in progress” – models and tools in the process of being developed. This book presents current and emerging human‐computer interaction research, not well‐established wisdom. It is difficult to generalise about overall quality of the research presented, as there is such diversity in the subject matter and methodology. As might be expected from the eclectic nature of the content, the contributors are from diverse backgrounds, which includes academics, consultants, a research director and a surgeon. This diversity underscores the multidisciplinary nature of human‐computer interaction research and the impact it is having in a number of different fields of research and practice.
I found the book an interesting and stimulating snapshot of some of the current research being conducted in this area, but in the end it was rather unsatisfying. If you treat the book as a collection of interesting parts rather than a coherent whole, you will not be disappointed.
