Citation - Nardi, B. A. (1996). Activity theory and human-computer interaction. In B. A. Nardi (Ed.), Context and consciousness: Activity theory and human-computer interaction (pp. 7-16).

Keyword - Activity theory

Ativity theory is

• a powerful and clarifying descriptive tool rather than a strongly predictive theory.

The object of AT is

• to understand the unity of consciousness and activity.
• to understand the interpenetration of the individual, other people, and artifacts in everyday activity.

(in AT) Consciousness is

• not a set of discrete disembodied cognitive acts (decision making, classification,

remembering),

• not the brain;
• located in everyday practice: you are what you do.

(in AT) Action (what you do) is

• firmly and inextricably embedded in the social matrix of which every person is an organic part.

(in AT) social matrix is

• composed of people and artifacts.
  • Artifacts: may be physical tools or sign systems such as human language.

AT's methodology

• emphasizes naturalistic study, culture, and history.

Leont'ev (1974)

mediation: all human experience is shaped by the tools and sign systems we use.

HCI & consciousness:

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file link - Google Schloar, XXC