[Trope]

The following definition is given by the Association for Computing Machinery[1]:
"Human-computer interaction is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them."

Because human-computer interaction studies a human and a machine in conjunction, it draws from supporting knowledge on both the machine and the human side. On the machine side, techniques in computer graphics, operating systems, programming languages, and development environments are relevant. On the human side, communication theory, graphic and industrial design disciplines, linguistics, social sciences, cognitive psychology, and human performance are relevant. Engineering and design methods are also relevant.

Does anyone know much about what a job in this field would be like? How much schooling would it take to do something like this, realistically?



General discussion on the topic would also be appreciated.

[BeHope]

Cybernetics generally requires a major in one field and and at least a minor in another field.
whether thats a double major that your looking at or a major and a minor or probably the best would be a major and a double minor. you can look at adding about another two years of schooling.

Due to a more standardized "language" a job in this field should be a lot more exciting than when the field first opened up. there's a lot less of trying to get each other to understand a point that's being made and a lot more getting on with the project.

Maybe I'm missing something.

this answer feels on topic but there are doubts.

[Trope]

The field deals with how people interact with computers. It applies to all existing forms of computing, not just cybernetics, though that's certainly intriguing as well.

Do you know much about cybernetics? What kind of degrees would that take to get started?

[Nightriser]

I don't know much about it, but I doubt you'd be expected to cover all the subtopics of HCI. Having to understand communication theory, graphic and industrial design disciplines, linguistics, social sciences, cognitive psychology, and human performance would be very demanding, requiring probably a few decades of schooling, unless you're a masochist who enjoys doing triple majors. As for a career in this field, I'm sure it would be fascinating, but I don't know anyone in it. I'm guessing computational linguistics would be included in this?

[BeHope]

The field deals with how people interact with computers. It applies to all existing forms of computing, not just cybernetics, though that's certainly intriguing as well.

Do you know much about cybernetics? What kind of degrees would that take to get started?

No, you're getting into cybernetics just not the part that deals with "robot" body parts.

[Trope]

I don't know much about it, but I doubt you'd be expected to cover all the subtopics of HCI. Having to understand communication theory, graphic and industrial design disciplines, linguistics, social sciences, cognitive psychology, and human performance would be very demanding, requiring probably a few decades of schooling, unless you're a masochist who enjoys doing triple majors.

But they're all such delicious berries waiting to be plucked. Sometimes the juice is worth the squeeze.

Platitudes aside, the reason I'm asking is because I don't think a person would have to be highly skilled in all of the mentioned fields, but I would like to have a better idea of where I would want to start.

As for a career in this field, I'm sure it would be fascinating, but I don't know anyone in it. I'm guessing computational linguistics would be included in this?

It certainly looks that way. It's a broad term that applies to a great many things. More with each passing post, as it turns out.

I'm going to have to keep an eye on this thread to see what comes up next.

[Trope]

No, you're getting into cybernetics just not the part that deals with "robot" body parts.

Great semantic argument.

[Nightriser]

Network theory? I'm hoping to take a class in it next semester. It is a mathematical approach to systems, networks, and complexity. But I suppose I'm meandering a bit from the original topic.

If one needs only basic understanding of all and in-depth knowledge of only one or two of the included disciplines, then I suppose, as BeHope said, it would only require taking a major and a minor in one of said disciplines. The others can simply be treated as side projects and independent reading that we INTPs so love. My adviser (ENTJ) would be aghast at such a field, insisting that one must learn to focus on one discipline. What got you interested?

[Trope]

Network theory? I'm hoping to take a class in it next semester. It is a mathematical approach to systems, networks, and complexity. But I suppose I'm meandering a bit from the original topic.

If one needs only basic understanding of all and in-depth knowledge of only one or two of the included disciplines, then I suppose, as BeHope said, it would only require taking a major and a minor in one of said disciplines. The others can simply be treated as side projects and independent reading that we INTPs so love. My adviser (ENTJ) would be aghast at such a field, insisting that one must learn to focus on one discipline. What got you interested?

I like you already.

Truth be told, I found this topic the same way I find a great many things on days I'm bored. I was watching the video below on this page, and upon further reading, I jumped down the rabbit hole and kicked up a whole slew of fascinating fields I hadn't previously given much thought to.

Youtube'd for lazy people.

[BeHope]

Network theory? I'm hoping to take a class in it next semester. It is a mathematical approach to systems, networks, and complexity. But I suppose I'm meandering a bit from the original topic.

not a bit of it.

General discussion on the topic would also be appreciated.

If one needs only basic understanding of all and in-depth knowledge of only one or two of the included disciplines, then I suppose, as BeHope said, it would only require taking a major and a minor in one of said disciplines. The others can simply be treated as side projects and independent reading that we INTPs so love

Most definitely a field for The Modern Renaissance Human.

My adviser (ENTJ) would be aghast at such a field, insisting that one must learn to focus on one discipline.

Tell your advisor that specialization is for insects.