Key building block missing to develop successful computer systems: Professor receives major grant to create it

Since computer systems have been an integral part of our lives for decades, it's surprising that many of them still don't work optimally. Slow, inefficient or illogical systems cause frustration on a daily basis, and it's a testament to the difficulty of making computer systems that match people's needs.

Why this is the case is something Professor Kasper Hornbæk has pondered over and over again during his solid research career.

He believes that his research field of Human-Centred Interaction (HCI), which focuses on making computer systems useful and usable, lacks robust theories.

- We've been trying to make useful computer systems for 40 years, but we still see many systems that cause frustration. I think this is because we lack fundamental theories that can predict how to succeed. We have spent a lot of energy developing methods that involve users in design and evaluation. The downside is that the methods primarily identify errors, explains Professor Kasper Hornbæk.

With the VILLUM Investigator grant, Kasper Hornbæk will establish a new research centre dedicated to the development and application of HCI theory.

- We will focus on understanding the field's central questions, such as mutual influence between computers and humans in interaction and defining what makes systems valuable to end users, says Kasper Hornbæk.

Computer systems should not be fast food

The ultimate goal of the new centre is to transform HCI from a research field based on methods to one grounded in theoretical insights. This change will improve the design of new technologies and make applying theory as accessible as using methods.

The goal is for theory to be used to invent new user interfaces for, among others, AI, social media and virtual reality - ultimately benefiting actual users.

- We are living in a time where the technical development of AI is booming, but with old-fashioned user interfaces. Prompting basically looks the same as it did in the 1980s. I think we can do better, says Kasper Hornbæk.

He also points out that it is important to remember the ethical aspect when predicting what makes a computer system good.

Large tech companies have been successful in applying theories from behavioural psychology in the design of social media to retain users. But this is a slippery slope, says Kasper Hornbæk.

- It's becoming increasingly bleak what social media is doing to us - especially to our children and young people. It's important that we also take into account the psychological and well-being aspects when theorising about what makes a good computer system. Systems should be useful, but they should not be like fast food. It's not healthy for us to scroll on our phones for hours on end, says Kasper Hornbæk.