The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction [Hardcover]

Stuart K. Card (Author), Thomas P. Moran (Author), Allen Newell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...highly recommended for its success in providing a cognitive model of user behavior which can be clearly translated into practical design tools. Furthermore, the fully comprehensive and easy to follow presentation will appeal to a wide range of audiences for whom the editors intend it.
—Applied Ergonomics

This is a book that is designed not just to be read but to be used -- through discussion, study, and prolonged reflection....[it] successfully explores several ways in which computer science, engineering, and psychology can be integrated into a single theory for human-computer interaction.
—Computing

Product Details

• Hardcover: 469 pages
• Publisher: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; New edition edition (February 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898598591
• ISBN-13: 978-0898598599
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #663,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A too-little-known classic, May 25, 2000

By 

Jef Raskin - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction (Hardcover)

Designing human-computer interfaces is still an art, learned best by creating many interfaces and carefully observing how real users interact with them. However, there are many tools from cognitive psychology that, if understood and applied, can yeild at least two benefits. First, by learning what is known about how humans operate, you can avoid many pitfalls in design. Second, you can make quantitative design decisions.

This book, though nearly 20 years old, contains much essential material that is unknown to many practitioners in the field! If you are designing interfaces, on the Web, for PCs, or for information appliances, you should read and understand the basic material in this book, which can never go out of date as long as humans use keyboards and mice with their hands and scan the screen with their eyes.

My own recent book, The Humane Interface, is -- in many aspects -- just following in the footsteps of this pathbreaking, pioneering, and important work.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little known classic - should be required reading, October 29, 2000

By 

kent dahlgren (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction (Hardcover)

The ten or so others out there who have read this monster are probably experiencing a facial tic at my suggestion that it be required reading for all who design software. Its not a quick read, but its definately a page turner. I couldn't put it down.

I'm serious.

For me, a guy with a solid background in networking and systems architecture but without the classical human factors education required for intelligent product design this one document did a far better job of firmly rooting me in the basics than anything else.

Mad props to Norman and Neilsen for pointing me in this direction in the first place. But with this book I finally felt "full."

There were a solid list of findings I'd never heard of until I'd opened this book. Not only did this book introduce me to these sorts of things, it also illustrated them to me. I walked away understanding.

Like all of my other faves, this book is opened often. I've bought many copies for friends (with friends like me...) and I reference it often.

Its notable that the most leading edge work today related to this topic is being driven by the same guys who wrote this book so long ago. Its among my top five most suggested books for those I know who want to take their design to the next level.

5.0 out of 5 stars The bible of Human Computer Interaction, May 28, 2009

By 

Her Royal Majesty "A happy customer." (Florida) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction (Hardcover)

The should be required reading for anyone in the Human Factors field, or anyone without a HF degree who wants to build something humans will use.