Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!emory!utkcs2!mars!sfp
From: sfp@mars.ornl.gov (Phil Spelt)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: Re: CFV:  comp.human-factors
Keywords: HCI, human-computer interaction, user interface design
Message-ID: <1991May16.135013.8970@cs.utk.edu>
Date: 16 May 91 13:50:13 GMT
References: <+r1g_#=@rpi.edu> <74910@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Sender: usenet@cs.utk.edu (USENET News Poster)
Reply-To: sfp@mars.epm.ornl.gov (Phil Spelt)
Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab
Lines: 69


In article <+r1g_#=@rpi.edu> vote@mantis.co.uk writes:
>
>
>PURPOSE/CHARTER:
>
>   To provide a forum for discussion of general issues relating to
>   human-computer interaction (HCI) and human factors.
>
>     [Stuff deleated  PFS]
>
>   The newsgroup is also not intended for human-factors discussion which is
>   not relevant to the field of computing. 
>
>ABOUT THE NAME:
>
>   I initially suggested the name comp.hci. This was generally felt to be
>   an obscure acronym, so I held a poll to determine the most popular
>   alternative, out of:
>
>            comp.hci                comp.human-factors
>            comp.chi                comp.user-interface
>            comp.interaction        none of the above
>
>   The poll was announced twice in various newsgroups including news.groups.
>   I received two replies; one suggesting comp.human-factors, with a
>   suggestion that perhaps the subject matter was relevant to a sci group; and
>   a joke reply suggesting a newsgroup named "none of the above". I also
>   received quite a bit of mail from people who wanted a group but weren't too
>   bothered by the name.
>

I didn't see the original call for discussion, so could not experss my opinion.
(See below for my point of view).

>   In view of the total lack of controversy regarding the name, I am changing
>   the proposed name to comp.human-factors (as preferred by 100% of those who
>   expressed a preference, including myself :-) but NOT going through another
>   round of discussions.
>
             [more stuff deleated PFS}

I have tried to post a resposne to this CFV 3 times and have never seen it
posted.  If this has been posted before, I am sorry.

I shall have to vote "NO" for this group -- one in which I am interested --
only because of the name.  "Human Factors", in the US, anyway, deals with
the interaction between people and ANY machinery with which they work and/or play.  This is similar to the term "ergonomics" in Europe, I believe.  Restricting
the BB to computers only is fine, but DON'T call it "human Factors.  This is misleading, and will cause conflict with a BB we are talking about starting in
the US which WILL be HF in all its broad meaning.

CHI is increasingly being used, as is HCI -- witness the HCI '91 conference
at Edingerg, and the recently concluded CHI 91 conference at New Orleans.  Those
who know what CHI/HCI means will investigate the BB, those who don't but are
curious will learn whast the acronym means when they investigate the BB.

Therefore, I think the name should be comp.CHI.

=============================================================================
MIND.  A mysterious form of matter secreted by the brain.  Its chief activity
consists in the endeavor to asscertain its own nature, the futility of the
attempt being due to the fact that it has nothing but itself to know itself
with.   -- Ambrose Bierce
=============================================================================

Phil Spelt, Cognitive Systems & Human Factors Group  sfp@epm.ornl.gov
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Any opinions expressed or implied are my own, IF I choose to own up to them.
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