HCI

Are you kidding me? I wrote a brilliant, lenghtly observation about HCI, and my computer dumped me out. This is not an example of a successful HCI. I expect that in this case, the responsibility lies on the poorly designed system, not the more common- error in human operators.
So we begin again. After class, I started my car with the key remote, much as Laura did. I started the car primitively with a computerized key placed in the ignition. I was alerted that my scheduled maintenance was overdue by 500 miles, as my onboard computer also notified me that I had a range of 90 miles left in the gas tank, and I was averaging 8 mph until I was north of McDowell Rd. The trip to the gas station provided a computerized gas pump and payment system, of course. Following, the bank's atm made it convenient to deposit an assortment of paper money and a handful of checks to be scanned at once. I went home, did not use any HCI gaming platforms, but rather prepared dinner with my computerized oven, and watched recorded tv with my dvr. These are examples of HCI at their best. These are daily interfaces for most of us.
Thursday's seminar by Dr. Kahol was fascinating. I know a bit about Banner's Simulation Center (perhaps we can have a class "field trip"?), but to see the modification of Wii games that became tools for laproscopic surgery training is mind boggling. I have read that HCI must be a balance between user ease and an intuitive system. Ideally, greater affordability is a component to provide greater access. He has seeminly accomplished all of this as his presentation demonstrated. Strong work!
Lee