History of Interaction Design

Interaction Design: a History David Heller Synaptic Burn http://synapticburn.com/ IDSA National Conference 27 August 2005

Background of Presentation

This presentation was 1 part of a 3 hr. seminar given by both David Heller and Robert Reimann on August 27, 2005 at the IDSA 2005 National Conference: re-Action in Washington, D.C.

Robert’s portion of this seminar is available for all who wish to purchase About Face 2.0 co-authored by Alan Cooper and Robert Reimann.

Robert Reimann is the Manager of the User Interface Design and Research Group at Bose Corporation (www.bose.com)

Why & What of IxD

Too many digital products are hard to use

A new “medium”, a new kind of design

Interactive digital products require and respond to human input, and change their own content or behavior based on that input.

Form, behavior , and content must all be defined.

Traditional design disciplines do not have methods that address complex behavior.

Non-design disciplines are not geared toward generating desirable solutions.

Multiple design disciplines define a digital product

Industrial design

Hardware form, aesthetics, and ergonomics

Visual design

Color, typography, and layout of images/transitions

Information design

Clear communication of concepts or data

Interaction design

Defines the behavior of a product; also concerned with form and content as they relate to system behavior and user input

Interaction Design (IxD): A definition

A design discipline dedicated to:

Defining the behavior of artifacts, environments, and systems (i.e., products )

… and therefore concerned with:

Anticipating how use of the products will mediate human relationships and affect human understanding

Guiding the form of products to the extent that it influences/is influenced by their behavior and use

The Interaction Design Group’s (IxDG) definition of IxD can be found at http://define.ixdg.org/ This definition was conceived by Robert Reimann and Jodi Forlizzi

Good (interaction) design is:

Ethical

It does no harm, and hopefully improves situations.

Purposeful

It helps people accomplish goals.

It is appropriate to the user’s context.

Pragmatic

It achieves business goals and fits within constraints.

Elegant

It provides the simplest complete solution.

It engages the emotions appropriately.

A Brief History of Interaction Design

Moving towards complexity – Human-powered Single-part Tools Multi-part Tools Mechanical motion

Moving towards complexity – Animals, Water, Fire Animals Water Fuel

Moving towards complexity – ELECTRICITY Sensory Feedback Human Intervention Real-time Feedback Input /Output

Moving towards complexity – computation/virtualization Analog / Mechanical Digital (buttons) Virtual/Metaphor

Moving toward complexity – software in tools Refrigerator ??? Auto Phone

From complexity to simplicity – multi-channel and embedded Passive & embedded future iPod + iTunes > Shuffle

Mediating the social experience

Simple point to point communication

E-mail

Instant Messaging & SMS

VoIP / conferencing

Video conferencing

Mediated interactions

Online Gaming (role playing)

Everquest by Sony

Folksonomy

http://flickr.com/

Mobile phones w/ GPS + bluetooth

http://bluetoothflirt.de

Marc Rettig’s progression – our creation understanding © Marc Rettig 2004. http://marcrettig.com/

Merging of concepts – creates research-based empathetic design practice

Architecture / Design

Form and function need to create a balance.

This marriage happens through intentionality – i.e. design

Human Factors (ergonomics + cognitive psychology)

Military created the field of human factors

Understanding human limits of mind and body

Clinical observation and evaluation of ideas

Spawned Human Computer Interaction ( HCI )

Just the virtual, focus on the cognitive and on software .

More merging

Information Design/Architecture

Richard Saul Wurman illuminates the idea that graphic design + writing needs to merge; bring purpose to book design.

Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom

Context, and re-evaluation of use over time.

Edward Tufte: Envisioning Information

Software Design Manifesto

Mitch Kapor outlines the need for software to be designed, not just engineered.

Firmness, commodity and delight

Bring on the Web as catalyst

IxD existed before the web …. But!

Web brought previously disconnected forces together

Information Technology

Graphic, broadcast, game and multimedia design

Computer Science including HCI/Human Factors -- usability

Publishing

Advertising

Broadcasting

Marketing

Strategic Design

War of the titles

Producer

Interactive Designer

Information Architect

User Interface Designer

Usability Engineer

Web Designer

GUI Specialist

User Experience Designer Content Producer Interactive Producer GUI Engineer Product Designer HCI Expert Interaction Designer No one and everyone fit these titles and so everyone felt like they fit the role being described for the job.