The human-computer interface and information literacy: Some basics and beyond

Research into human-computer interaction has revealed many factors that affect the success of computer-mediated tasks such as information seeking and retrieval. This research is relevant to information professionals, including librarians and those who teach information literacy. The factors revealed include design considerations, cognitive aspects, and the dynamics at the human-computer interface. Some of these factors pertain to communication models and aspects of instructional design. The dynamics or interactions at the interface also suggest-especially for searches of remote, computer-based information-that the term human-computer interface may be inaccurate. A more appropriate, comprehensive term is suggested that goes beyond the notion of the human-computer interface in at least three ways: it modifies and expands the traditional notion of interface, applies to all typical information resources, and is move relevant to information literacy.