1 Purpose
The human interface has steadily developed as a comprehensive academic field for studying the relationships between human and technology. It involves research not only from the standpoint of those providing technology, but also focuses on the perspectives of those receiving and appraising this technology. Therefore, in addition to the principles of science and engineering, it needs to be supported by broad-ranging academic organizations that could take the principles of civilized humans at the physiological, cognitive, psychological, cultural, and social level, and include design that is both actively sensitive and attractive.
The 20th Century is said to have been the century of machines, and countless varieties of machines were invented and improved. However, while advanced and specialized machines have also been developed, machines aimed at ordinary people have increased in popularity, and the importance of easy-to-understand machines, and safe machines that are kind to people has been recognized, giving birth to the technology of the human interface. Additionally, with information technology, which was developed in the middle of the 20th Century and saw exponential growth throughout the second half of the century, the scope of “machines” radically increased and diversified. The presence of their systems and environment could be regarded as the surrounding of humanity. Their existence gives satisfaction and joy to those people who use them and does not get in the way of people who do not use them. Thus, they can be said to contribute to the improved quality of life and the formation of culture. The 21st Century is the century of people, and what is required to achieve this is the human interface.
Even in the 21st Century, with the science and technology basic plan etc. created by our country in order to achieve this mission, the next-generation human interface is considered to be an important item in information technology. Furthermore, the fact that the new keywords of sensitivity, comfort, and reliability/safety are all major guidelines and principles of our society can be said to express the extent of the responsibility undertaken by the society.
2 Progress until Application
The establishment of this society was planned based on the steady achievements of preceding academic studies. The Human Interface Committee of the Society of Instrument and Control Engineers has supported as many as 34 different academic societies over the course of 14 years, and promoted the Human Interface Symposium and related activities (study groups, bulletins, collections of research papers, international conferences), and contributed to the establishment of the human interface field in this country. This voluntary group, the Human Interface Society, with the encouragement of related societies and experts, was inaugurated in 1999 to inherit and develop these achievements, and has reinforced its activities as an open interdisciplinary academic organization. It has developed into the leading academic organization in the field of human interface in this.
Based on these robust results, we have established a stronger social platform and have decided to relaunch the Human Interface Society here as a special non-profit organization in order to further contribute to the academic culture related to the Human Interface.
September 16, 2005
