Why history matters: Visual innovation and the role of image theory in HCI

Abstract

Creating and experiencing visual innovation in HCI is based on the historical property of images, and builds on users' visual experiences with certain prior imagery. Historicity of digital visuality seems to be crucial but ignored by most approaches in designing visual experience. This paper suggests to take into account not only aspects from image theory but also art history and science studies that suggest ways of dealing with the historicity of images for successfully creating "new" visual form. Furthermore HCI's own history bears opportunities to connect to the epistemics of visuality derived from the past. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.