What is the future of man-machine interaction? What is the role of an interaction designer in that story?

1. The Future of Designing
Human-Technology Interactions
Petr Kosnar
IamPetr.com
@faxecz

2. To know your future
you must know your past
George Santayana

3. Image ref. 1
Let‘s talk about the technology as about a tool amplifying human
capabilities. The tool typically has two sides – one fitting the user (the
round side), and the other fitting the problem (the sharp side).

4. Image ref. 2
More recent example of a human using technology... In comparison to
the previous slide, the goal of this person is way more complex and
abstract. The person wants to send a message to another person.
Today‘s technology allows this: Extension of human capabilities.

5. Image ref. 3
Remember the communication in the times before this technology
was available...

6. ...or even earlier. While talking about technologies and interactions,
we are dealing with human capabilities, and technology capabilities.
Humans are naturally not capable of communicating on a distance, so
they need a technology that allows it.
But note that the human remains the same!

7. human capabilities
vs.
technology capabilities
We can shape technology, and control it. But we cannot (much) control
human capabilities. Humans can just learn something new, but that is
not a radical change in human capabilities.

8. human capabilities
vs.
technology capabilities
Human capabilities are very limited. Limited perceptual abilities,
attention, memory, motorics, strength, shape and size of our body, ...
And the technology must fit these limitations if people are supposed
to use it.

9. human capabilities
vs.
technology capabilities
Technology capabilities are unlimited in long-term view! Humans are
constantly developing new technologies. Current generation can do
what the previous generation was only dreaming about. If we face
new problem, we usually try to find a solution and develop a
technology that allows us to solve the problem – new tools.

10. Image ref. 4
Example: autonomous car. Technologies are copying human abilities,
and are often able to complete the tasks better than – incredibly
imperfect – humans. The technology is here today... But when do
people get access to it? There is a gap between inventing the
technology, and the moment when it reaches the mass market.

11. Image ref. 5
ecosystem
Technologies need ecosystem that makes them accessible to people.
This ecosystem consists (not only) of: announcing the existence of the
technology; telling people what it can be good for, and letting them to
play with it; making it accessible; providing tools for using it
(frameworks, APIs, testing platforms).

12. Image ref. 5
ecosystem
Emergence of such environment takes a long time...
Sometimes it never happens – there have been plenty of groundbreaking technologies that never reached wide public, because they
never had an ecosystem around.
Building up this ecosystem is a task for DESIGNERS.

13. Image ref. 6
Of course, it is easier to design within an existing ecosystem, but that
does not bring anything new... Especially not anything what involves
the new technologies. In order to achieve the innovation, we must
intentionally create and shape new ecosystems.

14. Image ref. 6
We must follow the latest discoveries, search for the ways of serving
them to people in the best possible way – i.e. so that it solves their
current problems. It‘s designers‘ role to make the latest technologies
accessible (bringing them into people‘s houses), and shape the future
and the environment for the next generation.

15. Image ref. 6
We must not design for today‘s needs using yesterday‘s technology.
We must design for the next generation, with a vision of 5, 10, 15
years. Utilizing technology that will be still novel in that timeframe.

16. Image ref. 6
Do not be afraid of pushing people into learning something new – they
will manage – they always did. There is nothing like „natural interface“,
everything is learnt (e.g. , using a keyboard, touchscreen, ...). There are
only more or less established mental models.
We, as designers, are defining mental models of new devices!

17. Image ref. 7
Design
meaningful interactions
&
create the ecosystems
for novel technologies

18. Thank you!
Petr Kosnar
IamPetr.com
@faxecz

19. Image credits
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Flickr: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35256023@N02/6282946000/)
Flickr: ebayink
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/24178168@N07/6816581220/)
Flickf: garryknight
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/8176740@N05/6789300666/)
The Detroit Bureau (http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/03/handsoff-we-take-a-drive-gms-autonomous-super-cruise/)
Flickr: blakespot
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/35448539@N00/4773693893/)
Flickr: Humphrey King
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/53646146@N02/8199045417/)
Flickr: ebayink
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/24178168@N07/6816581064/)