
Plans and Situated Actions
The Problem of Human-Machine Communication
Lucy A. Suchman(Author)
Cambridge University Press
2nd Edition
Published on 26. November 1987
Book
Paperback/Softback
220 pages
978-0-521-33739-7 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
This lively and original book offers a provocative critique of the dominant assumptions regarding human action and communication which underlie recent research in machine intelligence. Lucy Suchman argues that the planning model of interaction favoured by the majority of AI researchers does not take sufficient account of the situatedness of most human social behaviour. The problems that can arise as a result are pertinently, and often amusingly, illustrated by the careful analysis of a recorded interaction between novice users and an intelligent machine, whose design has failed to accommodate essential resources of successful human communication. Plans and Situated Actions presents a compelling case for the re-examination of current models underlying interface design. Lucy Suchman's proposals for a fresh characterisation of human-computer interaction which also incorporates recent insights from the social sciences provides a challenge that everyone interested in machine intelligence will seriously need to consider.
Reviews / Votes
'This book should be required reading for every serious student of computer system design.' Terry Winograd, Stanford University 'Lucy Suchman's book is a uniquely creative anthropological approach to human and machine intelligence. Her book poses a closely argued challenge to central assumptions in the cognitive sciences.' Jean Lave, University of California, Irvine 'This book should be required reading for all who deal with the study of human action, whether they be cognitive scientists interested in how people work or practitioners who wish to make systems for people to use ... A most important work.' Donald A. Norman, University of California, San DiegoMore details
Series
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
355 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-33739-7 (9780521337397)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Book
12/2006
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€52.20
Shipment within 15-20 days
Content
Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. Interactive artefacts; 3. Plans; 4. Situated actions; 5. Communicative resources; 6. Case and methods; 7. Human-machine communication; 8. Conclusion; References; Indices.