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Activity theory: Basic concepts and applications

A summary of a tutorial given at the east west HCI95 conference

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Human-Computer Interaction (EWHCI 1995)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1015))

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Abstract

The objective of the tutorial is to introduce attendees to Activity Theory, a general theoretical framework for the analysis of human and communal action in the world. After an overview of the theory, focus shifts to how this framework can be utilized in practice. Some examples are shown of how this framework can provide a fresh perspective on certain extant problems in the fields of HCI and CSCW. Hopefully, participants become more aware of the nature and complexity of current controversies concerning the role of theory in the design of computer artifacts. By the end of the tutorial, participants should be able to understand the basic principles of the approach, and to describe their work activities in ways illuminated by this framework

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Informatics, Umeå University, S-901 87, Umeå, Sweden

    Victor Kaptelinin

  2. Department of Information Proc. Science, University of Oulu, FIN-90570, Oulu, Finland

    Kari Kuutti

  3. De7partment of Computer Science & Information Systems, University of Limerick, Ireland

    Liam Bannon

Authors
  1. Victor Kaptelinin
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  2. Kari Kuutti
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  3. Liam Bannon
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Brad Blumenthal Juri Gornostaev Claus Unger

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kaptelinin, V., Kuutti, K., Bannon, L. (1995). Activity theory: Basic concepts and applications. In: Blumenthal, B., Gornostaev, J., Unger, C. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. EWHCI 1995. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1015. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-60614-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-60614-9_14

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