A human-computer interface (HC interface) is an attempt to allow humans to communicate with computers in a way that is as natural as possible for the human. This can be done in many ways, though communication is always unnatural in some way.
The mode of communication tends to be unnatural for the human at best and downright bizarre for the machine.
Human-computer interfaces are inherently inefficient. An interface implies adaptation by both parties to enable communication.
Human Computer interfaces (HCI) in Cars
My car has a large touchscreen on the dashboard to take on the function of a media player, GPS and infotainment system. It’s cool and all and certainly feels “like the future” but is a touch screen an effective way for a driver to communicate with the car? Probably not. Physical dials and push buttons are difficult to reach and easy to miss. Let alone the difficulty of accurately selecting a touchscreen button where physical feedback is non-existent. Reaching for the digital button requires direct eye contact with the screen, taking the drivers attention away from the road. The lack of haptic feedback which the physical world provides “out of the box” is removed in digital interfaces.
Voice control is by far the best interface we have so far (assuming it is executed right and used for the correct use cases). It leverages a powerful human-to-human interface (verbal communication) to allow human-computer communication. (Skip to the last heading for a concrete example of the efficiency of voice interfaces)
An interface implies adaptation by both parties to enable communication. Humans are forced to use digital touch screen displays and never tire to complain about it.
Computers, on the other hand, are programmed to control a two-dimensional array of coloured dots (pixels) that emit light at precisely the right frequencies and timing to stimulate chemicals inside the eye balls of human beings. The computer doesn’t know about “eyes”, “light” and “color” and that the presence of “color” implies the presence of “light”.
All this happens just to enable an acceptable mode of communication with the human party. Where is the convenience in that?
When it comes to my home automation set up there are a few reactions I get. Most people enthusiastically engage and ask questions, showing genuine interest. Others politely—and rather awkwardly—ignore the fact that my table lamp turned itself on for no apparent reason. Once the initial hurdle of introducing people to home automation is overcome though, I always get the same reaction.
These are mere interfaces between a person and the machine, and they are mediocre interfaces at best. An interface creates inconvenience. It is therefore important to avoid the introduction of new interfaces into our everyday lives at all costs.
Conclusion
This concept is especially important in a home automation context, as we would be worse off using a web interface than a simple switch on the wall. If there is no benefit to using a technology, it is better to leave it out of the equation and stick with existing, trusted and convenient methods.
