Acting with Technology: Activity Theory and Interaction Design

Citation

Howard, W.R. (2007), "Acting with Technology: Activity Theory and Interaction Design", Kybernetes, Vol. 36 No. 5/6, pp. 827-827. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920710749910

This is an unusual book which tells us what we have always appreciated, that everyday activity shapes the human mind. This means that our interactions each day with other humans and with artifacts may be structured into a viable theory based on activity. It goes further and suggests that there is a case for using activity theory to help us understand our relationship with technology.

To do this, Kaptelinun and Nardi need to introduce and describe what the theory is. This is completed at the beginning of the text where a full background to the development of the theory is presented. Only then is consideration given to its application to what we know as technology. With the most important tenets of the theory of activity discussed the authors then describe the links between interaction design and the theory. References are presented to back up their thesis. Many of the present‐day issues in the development of activity theory are given and future progress discussed.

This book provides an excellent analysis of activity theory and will be of much interest and value to readers involved with cybernetic and systemic applications in many diverse' fields of endeavour. Anyone researching the area of interaction design will also find that the notions and descriptions provided are particularly helpful in their project development.