HCI perspectives on man-machine systems

This paper, the revision of an earlier report by the same author (issued by the Department of Computer Science, Tampere University, Finland), discusses difficulties in the design of man-machine systems, from the perspective of human-computer interaction. In particular, a current approach to complex systems, called 'cognitive engineering', is detailed and discussed in relation to problems of complexity and representation. Some of the conceptual insights of Jens Rasmussen are considered, in addition to other design responses, as means of making progress in the design of better man-machine systems.