Applying the conception of HCI engineering to the design of economic systems

• Authors: Ian K. Salter
• Venue: Interacting with Computers
• Year: 2010

The Long and Dowell conception for HCI design (Long and Dowell, 1989) outlined the general design problem for HCI and contrasted between applied science and engineering disciplines of HCI. Salter (1995) sought to clarify the applied science conception through the application of Kuhn's conception of science. Salter also built upon the work of Long and Dowell to produce a generic conception of engineering design. As part of this work the notion of preference was formalized. Building upon the generic conception a set of criterion for an engineering discipline is established. A general design problem for economics is outlined in order to apply the generic conception to the field of economics. Roth's (2002) implicit conception of economic engineering is analyzed against the criterion and the formalized notion of preferences and found to be a consistent but not complete example of an engineering discipline. The general problem of economic design, based upon Long and Dowell's approach, is employed to analyze a regulatory response (Turner, 2009) to the global financial crisis of 2007+ and develop a design-based solution to the problems. It is argued that the current applied science based responses to the economic crisis are insufficient and that a multi disciplinary engineering approach is necessary. This approach includes consideration of how economic participants interact with computers as part of the financial system.