A Better Mythology for System Design
Jed Harris, Ricoh Silicon Valley & Pliant Research and Austin Henderson, Rivendel Consulting & Pliant Research

This talk looks at tensions between the current design philosophy implicit in "classical" computer science, and the needs of social systems. We explore the roots and rationale for the current design philosophy. Based on this analysis we suggest two research agendas to resolve this tension: one with immediate payoffs focused on "fixing" current design approaches, and one with longer term payoffs focused on developing new fundamental computing techniques.

(This is a fuller version of a talk given at CHI 99.)

Jed Harris's education is in computer science, computational linguistics, and the philosophy of science. His 20-year career in systems research and design includes object oriented computer architecture design at Data General and Intel, artificial intelligence applications at Intel, and object storage, document architecture and software component architecture design at Apple Computer.

His projects include a market based factory scheduling system at Intel, and OpenDoc, a cross-platform software component architecture, at Apple Computer. He has led development teams, created industry consortia, and founded and managed an industry standards organization, Component Integration Labs. Currently he is a principal in the corporate venture arm of Ricoh Silicon Valley, and co-founder of Pliant Research. He was one of the founders of OOPSLA in 1986.

Austin Henderson's education is in computer science, with experience in design and ethnography. His 30-year career in Human-Computer Interaction, includes user interface research and architecture at Bolt Beranek and Newman, Xerox research (Both PARC and EuroPARC) and Apple Computer, and strategic industrial design with Fitch.

His projects include Trillium, a user-interface design environment that supported many participants collaborating on creating and evolving both designs and design concepts across Xerox. He has worked in small research firms, managed research projects and laboratories, and led larger multi-divisional projects. Currently he is the principal of Rivendel Consulting, working with corporate customers on interface, product and strategic design, and also co-founder of Pliant Research. Austin has participated in the activities and leadership of ACM's Special Interest Group on Human-Computer Interaction (ACM/SIGCHI) for over 15 years.