In
this reading, the author had said, "a central goal of this book is to
suggest ways in which we can use a notion of theatre, not simply as a metaphor
but as a way to conceptualize human-computer interaction itself" (20).
Although this quote is said in the middle of the chapter, it summarized the
chapter. When understanding interface, the author describe the relation as a conversation
with the computer and a stage, which makes it easy to comprehend.
A good example to communicating to
the computer reminds me of the paperclip on Microsoft. If you were to start
writing a letter, you would start with “Dear,” automatically, the paperclip
would tell you that you are writing a letter, and suggests formats for the
letter. Although I never used him, he was the computer speaking to me and
recognizing what I was doing. Also, every time I opened Microsoft, I knew that
he would appear on the screen. This is an example of Figure 1.3 on page 13.
As the author continues to explain
the concept of a computer being a stage, he says “’users,’ the argument goes,
are like audience members who are able to have a greater influence on the
unfolding action” (16). Today, the video games that are played are allows
people to be both audiences, and the controller. One personal experience is “Uncharted.”
The player is able to control and manipulate the characters to win the game.
However, from time to time, the story-line turns into a movie, which proves the
author’s point of a computer having a conversation with us and be entertaining
as a film at the same time.
Unlike us talking to other people
of watching people perform on a stage, we are talking and performing with a machine,
a computer. In a way, it thinks like us but consists of different parts instead
of a brain. After reading this chapter, I understand computers easier than
before.
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