KAPTELININ • NARDI • KAPTELININ SeriesSeriesSeries ISSN: ISSN: ISSN: 1946-7680 1946-7680 1946-7680 NARDI • KAPTELININ NARDI • KAPTELININ SSSYNTHESISYNTHESISYNTHESIS L LLECTURESECTURESECTURES ON ONON MMM MorganMorganMorgan& & & ClaypoolClaypoolClaypool PublishersPublishersPublishers HHHUMAN-UMAN-UMAN-CCCENTEREDENTEREDENTERED I IINFORMATICSNFORMATICSNFORMATICS &&&CCC SeriesSeriesSeries Editor: Editor: Editor: John JohnJohn M. M.M. Carroll, Carroll,Carroll, Penn PennPenn State State State University University University ActivityActivityActivity Theory TheoryTheory in inin HCI HCIHCI FundamentalsFundamentalsFundamentals and andand Reflections ReflectionsReflections ActivityActivityActivity Theory TheoryTheory ininin HCIHCIHCI VictorVictorVictor Kaptelinin, Kaptelinin, Kaptelinin, University University University of of of Bergen Bergen Bergen and and and Umeå Umeå Umeå University University University FundamentalsFundamentalsFundamentals and andand Reflections ReflectionsReflections BonnieBonnieBonnie Nardi, Nardi, Nardi, University University University of of of California, California, California, Irvine Irvine Irvine ActivityActivityActivity theory—a theory—a theory—a conceptual conceptual conceptual framework framework framework originally originally originally developed developed developed by by by Aleksei Aleksei Aleksei Leontiev—has Leontiev—has Leontiev—has its its its roots roots roots in in in the the the socio-culturalsocio-culturalsocio-cultural tradition tradition tradition in in in Russian Russian Russian psychology. psychology. psychology. The The The foundational foundational foundational concept concept concept of of of the the the theory theory theory is is ishuman human human activity activity activity, which, ,which which ACT ACT ACT isis isunderstood understood understood as as as purposeful, purposeful, purposeful, mediated, mediated, mediated, and and and transformative transformative transformative interaction interaction interaction between between between human human human beings beings beings and and and the the the world. world. world. IVITY THEORYIVITY IN HCI SinceSinceSince the the the early early early 1990s, 1990s, 1990s, activity activity activity theory theory theory has has has been been been a a avisible visible visible landmark landmark landmark in in in the the the theoretical theoretical theoretical landscape landscape landscape of of of Human- Human- Human- THEORYIVITY IN HCI THEORYIVITY IN HCI ComputerComputerComputer Interaction InteractionInteraction (HCI). (HCI).(HCI). Alo AloAlongngng with withwith some somesome other otherother frameworks, frameworks,frameworks, such suchsuch as asas distributed distributeddistributed cognition cognitioncognition and andand phenomenology,phenomenology,phenomenology, it it itestablished established established itself itself itself as as as a a leadinga leading leading post-cognitivist post-cognitivist post-cognitivist appr appr approachoachoach in in in HCI HCI HCI and and and interaction interaction interaction design. design. design. In In In thisthisthis book book book we we we discuss discuss discuss the the the conceptual conceptual conceptual foundations foundations foundations of of of activity activity activity theory theory theory and and and its its its contribution contribution contribution to to to HCI HCI HCI research. research. research. After After After makingmakingmaking the thethe case casecase for forfor theory theorytheory in inin HCI HCIHCI and andand briefly brieflybriefly discussing discussingdiscussing the thethe contribution contributioncontribution of ofof activity activityactivity theory theorytheory to toto the thethe field fieldfield (Chapter(Chapter(Chapter 1) 1) 1) we we we introduce introduce introduce the the the historical historical historical roots, roots, roots, main main main ideas, ideas, ideas, and and and principles principles principles of of of activity activity activity theory theory theory (Chapter (Chapter (Chapter 2). 2). 2). After After After thatthatthat we we we present present present in-depth in-depth in-depth analyses analyses analyses of of of three three three issues issues issues which which which we we we consider consider consider of of of special special special importance importance importance to to to current current current developments developments developments ininin HCI HCIHCI and andand interaction interactioninteraction design, design,design, namely: namely:namely: agency agencyagency (Chapter (Chapter(Chapter 3), 3),3), experience experienceexperience (Chapter (Chapter(Chapter 4), 4),4), and andand activity-centric activity-centricactivity-centric computingcomputingcomputing (Chapter (Chapter(Chapter 5). 5).5). We WeWe conclude concludeconclude the thethe book bookbook with withwith r eflections rreflectionseflections on onon challenges challengeschallenges and andand prospects prospectsprospects for forfor further furtherfurther VictorVictorVictor Kaptelinin KaptelininKaptelinin developmentdevelopmentdevelopment of of of activity activity activity theory theory theory in in in HCI HCI HCI (Chapter (Chapter (Chapter 6). 6). 6). BonnieBonnieBonnie Nardi NardiNardi AboutAboutAbout SYNTHESIs SYNTHESIsSYNTHESIs ThisThisThis volume volume volume is is isa a aprinted printed printed version version version of of of a a awork work work that that that appears appears appears in in in the the the Synthesis Synthesis Synthesis Morgan Morgan DigitalDigitalDigital Library Library Library of of of Engineering Engineering Engineering and and and Computer Computer Computer Science. Science. Science. Synthesis Synthesis Synthesis Lectures Lectures Lectures Morgan provideprovideprovide concise, concise, concise, original original original presentations presentations presentations of of of important important important research research research and and and development development development topics,topics,topics, published published published quickly, quickly, quickly, in in in digital digital digital and and and print print print formats. formats. formats. For For For more more more information information information & & visitvisitvisit www.morganclaypool.com www.morganclaypool.com www.morganclaypool.com & Claypool Claypool Claypool ISBN:ISBN:ISBN: 978-1-60845-704-5 978-1-60845-704-5978-1-60845-704-5 SSSYNTHESISYNTHESISYNTHESIS L LLECTURESECTURESECTURES ON ONON 90000 MorganMorganMorgan & & & Claypool ClaypoolClaypool Publishers PublishersPublishers 9900000000 HHHUMAN-UMAN-UMAN-CCCENTEREDENTEREDENTERED I IINFORMATICSNFORMATICSNFORMATICS www.morganclaypool.comwww.morganclaypool.comwww.morganclaypool.com 999778781816160608088445457570704045455 JohnJohnJohn M. M.M. Carroll, Carroll,Carroll, Series SeriesSeries Editor Editor Editor Activity Theory in HCI Fundamentals and Reflections Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered Informatics Editor John M. Carroll, Penn State University Human-Centered Informatics (HCI) is the intersection of the cultural, the social, the cognitive, and the aesthetic with computing and information technology. It encompasses a huge range of issues, theories, technologies, designs, tools, environments and human experiences in knowledge work, recreation and leisure activity, teaching and learning, and the potpourri of everyday life. The series will publish state-of-the-art syntheses, case studies, and tutorials in key areas. It will share the focus of leading international conferences in HCI. Activity Theory in HCI: Fundamentals and Reflections Victor Kaptelinin and Bonnie Nardi 2012 Conceptual Models: Core to Good Design Jeff Johnson and Austin Henderson 2011 Geographical Design: Spatial Cognition and Geographical Information Science Stephen C. Hirtle 2011 User-Centered Agile Methods Hugh Beyer 2010 Experience-Centered Design: Designers, Users, and Communities in Dialogue Peter Wright and John McCarthy 2010 Experience Design: Technology for All the Right Reasons Marc Hassenzahl 2010 iii Designing and Evaluating Usable Technology in Industrial Research: Three Case Studies Clare-Marie Karat and John Karat 2010 Interacting with Information Ann Blandford and Simon Attfield 2010 Designing for User Engagement: Aesthetic and Attractive User Interfaces Alistair Sutcliffe 2009 Context-Aware Mobile Computing: Affordances of Space, Social Awareness, and Social Influence Geri Gay 2009 Studies of Work and the Workplace in HCI: Concepts and Techniques Graham Button and Wes Sharrock 2009 Semiotic Engineering Methods for Scientific Research in HCI Clarisse Sieckenius de Souza and Carla Faria Leitão 2009 Common Ground in Electronically Mediated Conversation Andrew Monk 2008 Copyright © 2012 by Morgan & Claypool All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Activity Theory in HCI: Fundamentals and Reflections Victor Kaptelinin and Bonnie Nardi www.morganclaypool.com ISBN: 9781608457045 paperback ISBN: 9781608457052 ebook DOI 10.2200/S00413ED1V01Y201203HCI013 A Publication in the Morgan & Claypool Publishers series SYNTHESIS LECTURES ON HUMAN-CENTERED INFORMATICS Lecture #13 Series Editor: John M. Carroll, Penn State University Series ISSN Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered Informatics Print 1946-7680 Electronic 1946-7699 Parts of Chapters 2 and 3 are based on Chapters 3 and 10, respectively, of Acting with Technology: Activity Theory and Interaction Design,