Computers as Theatre (2nd Edition)
"The future of our interactions with technology will build upon the foundations provided by Brenda Laurel in this deep, thought-provoking, and critically important book."–Don Norman, Nielsen Norman Group; author ofDesign of Everyday Things, Revised and Expanded Edition "An extremely timely update of a secret classic. Brenda Laurel will teach you a powerful and extremely refreshing way to look anew at things digital and the creation thereof. If you read the original, hit it again; it makes even better sense in the twenty-first century!"–William Gibson, author ofDistrust That Particular FlavorandZero History "Brenda Laurel'sComputers as Theatrewas one of the few truly transformative books to emerge in the heady, early days of the 'digital revolution,' demanding that we think of the computer as posing a series of creative problems that might best be addressed through the lens of the dramatic arts rather than purely technical problems that remain in the domain of the computer scientists. In this new edition, she revisits that classic text in light of her rich and diverse experiences as a designer, educator, and entrepreneur."–Henry Jenkins, author ofSpreadable Media: Creating MeaningandValue in a Networked Culture "Read this-it's both scholarly and fun and runs your own internal models of human-computer interaction through a series of gymnastics that will loosen and broaden your thinking about UI issues forever."–Howard Rheingold, author ofThe Virtual Community, Smart Mobs,andNet Smart "This new edition is livelier and cooler than ever. It is absolutely required reading for anyone interested in computers and their influence on culture. Thank you, Dr. Laurel, for a wild ride!"–Mary Flanagan, inventor, designer, and author ofCritical Play "The revision of this perennial classic is long overdue, and Laurel's thoughtful revisiting of her influential ideas from more than two decades ago does not disappoint. Her book bridges the intellectual heritage of our distant past (Aristotle), our recent past (Engelbart, Kay, Bushnell), and our present state of affairs concerning computers, illustrated by colorful, anecdotal parables."—Celia Pearce, Associate Professor of Digital Media, Georgia Tech; author ofCommunities of Play: Emergent Cultures in Multiplayer Games and Virtual Worlds "The arts have the power to grab hold of us, shape our attention and action, and make us feel like an experience is complete and meaningful.Computers as Theatre, Second Edition,is the essential guide to integrating that power into the design of new technologies."–Noah Wardrip-Fruin, Chair, Digital Arts and New Media, University of California, Santa Cruz; author ofExpressive Processing