The following is a brief high level overview of the evolution of Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI) from the mid-1940’s up to current days in the 2020’s. I had the opportunity to experience many of these interfaces, starting with the use of punch cards to run computer programs when I was a student attending Clemson University way back when.
Human-Computer Interface (HCI) systems design involves looking more closely at how humans interact and communicate intuitively. The goal is to teach computers, machines, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to better comprehend and communicate with humans. |
When I went to work on automated data processing (ADP) systems at the Veterans Administration (VA) in the mid-1970’s, I was introduced to Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) mini-computer systems that used video display terminals (VDT) and a command line interface to interact with the computer systems. Over the next several decades I learned to adapt to the ever evolving range of new computer interfaces, e.g. ‘Roll & Scroll’, Graphical User Interface (GUI), HyperText Interface, Voice Interaction...
Major User Interfaces
Batch Processing Interface – A punch card or paper tape interface used from1945 through mid-1960’s on large mainframe, batch processing systems.
Command Line Interface – Teletype and cathode ray tube (CRT) terminals made use of the command line interface (CLI) to interact with large or mid-sized computer systems from the mid-1960s to 1980.
Roll & Scroll Interface – The ‘roll & scroll’ interface with menu options emerged as the dominant method of interacting with mini-computers and personal computers (PC) from the late 1970’s through the mid-1980’s.
Graphical User Interface – ‘Windows’ and the graphical user interface (GUI) emerged in the mid-1980’s as the use of personal computers (PC) exploded on the scene.
HyperText Interface – In the mid-1990’s, HyperText emerged as the primary interface used when interacting with the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW)
As we entered the 21st century, the number and type of new technologies, computer devices, and Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI) have taken off. Think of ‘smartphones’, tablets, touchscreens, wearable systems, voice interaction, haptics, implantable systems, brain-computer interfaces (BCI)... all culminating in what I call the Invisible User Interface (IUI).
Most computer interfaces today use artificial controls and tangible devices whose operation has to be learned, e.g. Windows, computer mouse, joystick. That's about to change big time with the convergence of multiple modern technologies. The Invisible User Interface (IUI) will include sound, touch, gesture, and tactile inputs and outputs as humans interact with an ever increasing numbers of 'smart' machines and sensors all around us. Think of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Wearable Systems, Implantables... Read more about the Natural User Interface (NUI) on Wikipedia.
In
essence, the emerging Invisible User Interface (IUI) or Natural User
Interface (NUI) involves a major paradigm shift in traditional man
machine interaction using a variety of new computer interfaces that
will be basically invisible. We are rapidly getting there. Personally, I'm excited to to see how this all plays out over the coming decade.
* If you are interested in delving further into this topic and our future, you might want to read the novel 3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke. It’s a followup to his more well known book 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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