An eclectic approach to complexity from a human-centered perspective

The seductive idea of finding commonality in a variety of systems, situations, and organisms with regard to a generic concept of complexity has drawn significant attention from outstanding researchers of diverse backgrounds. In spite of years of research with many papers written there is yet to appear a convergence toward a unified methodology in the multidisciplinary approaches. In particular we consider how the synthesis of complex systems, as is practised in the software engineering of large systems, sheds light on the analysis of complexity. It is suggested that a human-centered approach that factors complexity modulo a context, also known in the past in artificial intelligence as a perspective, may provide a platform for distinguishing which elements are part of the complex object being considered and which are germane to the motivation of the student of that object. The thesis presented is that the object must not be considered independently from its user and its context, and that in the duality of the consideration one may learn more about both the general characteristics of complexity and of the reasons for our interest in it. The proposal is to consider simultaneously user, interaction, and the related interfaces when studying the complexity of a system. This approach is more integrative and less reductionist than studying any of the aspects individually and brings forth the difficulties of a large range of diverse settings. An overview of the field is briefly presented in light of the proposed approach.