An overview of semiotic engineering epistemic tools for the design of collaborative systems

Abstract

Semiotic Engineering (2005) is an HCI theory that perceives an interactive system as a computer-mediated communication in which the designer of a system conveys to system users who the system is for, what it can be used for and how to interact with it. Based on this communicative perspective, the theory aims at providing explanation about the phenomena related to the design, evaluation, and use of interactive systems. To do so, Semiotic Engineering draws on Semiotics - the discipline that studies signs, significations processes and communication - and makes connections to Computer Science concepts.