Use on Top: Developing a Rhetorical and Philosophical Theory of Usability

Robert R. Johnson
Michigan Technological University

7:00pm
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
411 West Hall (Ehrlicher Room) directions...

It is common knowledge among usability specialists that being major players in the design and development process is more a dream than a reality. Certainly, strides have been made over the past several decades to involve us in the early and middle stages of development, but we are more often than not a second thought, at best. In my presentation, I will argue that an important step toward developing a stronger presence for usability in design and development is to produce a coherent theory of use and usefulness. There is already a fairly well developed theory of use inside the disciplines of rhetoric and philosophy, but this rich mine has only had its surface scratched.

In short, I will briefly examine the recent history of human factors, HCI and usability studies to illustrate the lack of any coherent theory of use or usefulness. Following this I will draw upon my own work, as best exemplified in my book, User-centered Technology: A Rhetorical Theory for Computers and Other Mundane Artifacts, to argue for a rhetorical base for usability studies. I will conclude with a discussion of the need to revive some ancient concepts of technology and use: concepts that are as timely now as they were over two thousand years ago.

I want this to be an interactive session, so my intent will be to raise several issues and then have ample time for discussion.

About the Speaker

Bob Johnson is currently the Chair of the Department of Humanities at Michigan Technological University. He received his PhD in rhetoric and technical communication at Purdue University and was the director of graduate programs in technical and scientific communication at Miami University-Ohio before coming to Michigan Tech.