The document explores the evolution of computing and interaction styles, detailing the historical progression from personal computing in 1978 to natural user interfaces. It discusses critical concepts such as mobile computing, interaction design, and the technological hype cycle, highlighting the shift in focus from usability to user experience. Additionally, it raises questions about the future of interaction styles and the role of natural user interfaces in this landscape.

1. Introduction and Theoretical Foundations of New MediaInteraction Styles

2. ContentsEtymologyThe relation between the evolution of computing and the main interaction stylesThe technological hype cycle and adoption timingsRelated knowledge domainsBeyond interacting with digital mediaDavid Lamas, TLU, 20112

3. Personal computing1978It is generally thought that a computer must cost under USD 1000.00 to have mass-market appeal. A machine at that price today is a minimal computer system. It has as little as 8KB of user memory, uses audio cassettes for mass storage, and has a CRT display for output. Today’s computer is programmed in BASC. Small amounts of application software are available on cassettes.David Lamas, TLU, 20113

4. Data storage1978A new approach to storing data in computers, using a tunable dye laser, is described in US Patent 4,101,976 awarded to scientists at IBM’s San Jose Research Laboratory. Based on a photochemical process called ‘hole burning’, the new system provides a unique method for increasing the amount of information that can be packed into a given space.David Lamas, TLU, 20114

5. Mobile computing1994Recent advances in technology have provided portable computers with wireless interfaces that allow networked communication even while a user is mobile. Whereas today’s first-generation notebook computers and personal digital assistants are self-contained, networked mobile computers are part of a greater infrastructure. Mobile computing will very likely revolutionize the way we use computers.David Lamas, TLU, 20115

6. Interaction stylesInterAmong, betweenActionthe fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim InteractionReciprocal action or influenceInteraction is a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another The idea of a two-way effect is essential in the concept of interaction, as opposed to a one-way causal effectStyleA manner of doing somethingA way of painting, a way of writing… A way of interactingDavid Lamas, TLU, 2011

7. Interaction stylesIn our case…Ways of interacting with and through interactive mediaWays of communicating with and by means of computerized environments David Lamas, TLU, 20117

8. The evolution of computingDavid Lamas, TLU, 20118Waldner, J-B. 2007. Nano-informatiqueet intelligence ambiante: inventerl'ordinateurdu XXIe siècle. Hermes Science Publications, 2007

9. The evolution of computingDavid Lamas, TLU, 20119Waldner, J-B. 2007. Nano-informatiqueet intelligence ambiante: inventerl'ordinateurdu XXIe siècle. Hermes Science Publications, 2007

10. Main interaction stylesCommand line interfacesGraphical user interfacesNatural user interfacesDavid Lamas, TLU, 201110

11. The evolution of computingDavid Lamas, TLU, 201111Waldner, J-B. 2007. Nano-informatiqueet intelligence ambiante: inventerl'ordinateurdu XXIe siècle. Hermes Science Publications, 2007

12. Physical programmingDavid Lamas, TLU, 201112In the beginning it wasall about interacting with the computer

13. Card punching and readingDavid Lamas, TLU, 201113Batch processing

14. A teletypewriter David Lamas, TLU, 201114The birth of the CommandLine Interface

15. Early graphic workstationDavid Lamas, TLU, 201115An initial GraphicUser Interface

16. A mouse prototypeDavid Lamas, TLU, 201116Invented byDouglas Engelbart

17. A video-display unitDavid Lamas, TLU, 201117The oN-Line System featuring a display, a keyboard and mouse

18. The oN-Line System…or the Augmentation of Human IntellectA system envisioned by Douglas Engelbart, to help Increasing the capability of a man to approach a complex problem situation, to gain comprehension to suit his particular needs, and to derive solutions to problemsIncreased capability in this respect is taken to mean a mixture of the following: more-rapid comprehension, better comprehension, the possibility of gaining a useful degree of comprehension in a situation that previously was too complex, speedier solutions, better solutions, and the possibility of finding solutions to problems that before seemed insolvable Complex situations we include the professional problems of diplomats, executives, social scientists, life scientists, physical scientists, attorneys, designers--whether the problem situation exists for twenty minutes or twenty years…David Lamas, TLU, 201118http://www.dougengelbart.org/pubs/augment-3906.html

19. The oN-Line SystemThe system was called oN-Line System, because it was also networked between multiple computersComputers were no longer isolatedThe display system was based on vector graphics technology and could display both text and solid lines on the same screenBecause of limited memory space in the mainframe computer, it could only display upper-case characters, although true upper-case was displayed by the use of a short horizontal line directly above any capitalized lettersDavid Lamas, TLU, 201119

20. The evolution of computingDavid Lamas, TLU, 201120Waldner, J-B. 2007. Nano-informatiqueet intelligence ambiante: inventerl'ordinateurdu XXIe siècle. Hermes Science Publications, 2007

21. The Xerox AltoDavid Lamas, TLU, 201121The Alto was not a microcomputer as such, although its components did fit under a desk

22. The Xerox StarDavid Lamas, TLU, 201122The Star had some differences from the Alto, most significantly the ability to overlap windows was removed as it was thought too confusing for the general public…

23. The Apple LisaDavid Lamas, TLU, 201123The Lisa user interface invented some of the Graphical User Interface concepts we still use today. Icons could represent all files in the system and the drag and drop was used for file

24. The Apple MacintoshDavid Lamas, TLU, 201124

25. The Apple MacintoshDavid Lamas, TLU, 201125

26. Other early graphic user interfacesDavid Lamas, TLU, 201126

27. The evolution of computingDavid Lamas, TLU, 201127Waldner, J-B. 2007. Nano-informatiqueet intelligence ambiante: inventerl'ordinateurdu XXIe siècle. Hermes Science Publications, 2007

28. A graphic user interface timelineExamples of graphic user interface styles are…Menu selectionForms fill-inDirect manipulationMetaphors (ie. The desktop)Web navigationDavid Lamas, TLU, 201128

29. The evolution of computingDavid Lamas, TLU, 201129Waldner, J-B. 2007. Nano-informatiqueet intelligence ambiante: inventerl'ordinateurdu XXIe siècle. Hermes Science Publications, 2007

30. The evolution of computingDavid Lamas, TLU, 201130Waldner, J-B. 2007. Nano-informatiqueet intelligence ambiante: inventerl'ordinateurdu XXIe siècle. Hermes Science Publications, 2007

31. Natural user interfaces…is the common designation used by designers and developers of computer interfaces to refer to a user interface that is effectively invisible, or becomes invisible with successive learned interactions, to its usersThe word natural is used because most computer interfaces use artificial control devices whose operation has to be learnedSuch an interface relies on a user being able to carry out relatively natural motions, movements or gestures that they quickly discover control the computer application or manipulate the on-screen contentDavid Lamas, TLU, 201131

32. Natural user interfacesThe most distinct identifier of a natural user interface is the lack of a physical keyboard and or mouseHence, the most common examples are…(multi-)touch interfaces; andvoice-operated interfacesThe natural user interface removes the metaphors, and many of the artificially learned devices, to allow users to more directly manipulate content using more natural movements, motions and gesturesEnthusiast defend that these interfaces are fast to learn and, as such, freely apply the adjective 'intuitive’ to describe how users interact with themDavid Lamas, TLU, 201132

33. Perceptive pixelDavid Lamas, TLU, 201133

34. Microsoft SurfaceDavid Lamas, TLU, 201134

35. Xbox KinectDavid Lamas, TLU, 201135

36. Natural user interfaces are… not naturalAccording to Don NormanFundamental principles of knowledge of results, feedback, and a good conceptual model still ruleThe strength of the graphical user interface has little to do with its use of graphicsIt has to do with the ease of remembering actions, both in what actions are possible and how to invoke themVisible icons and visible menus are the mechanisms, and despite the well-known problems of scaling up to the demands of modern complex systems, they still allow one to explore and learnThe important design rule of a GUI is visibility: through the menus, all possible actions can be made visible and, therefore, easily discoverable. The system can often be learned through explorationSystems that avoid these well-known methods suffer.Are natural user interfaces natural? No, he says, but they will be useful.David Lamas, TLU, 201136

37. Other user interfacesDavid Lamas, TLU, 201137

38. Other user interfacesDavid Lamas, TLU, 201138

39. Other user interfacesDavid Lamas, TLU, 201139

40. Technological hype cycleDavid Lamas, TLU, 201140Linden, A. and Fenn, J. 2003. Understanding Gartner's Hype Cycles. Strategic Analysis Report R-20-1971. 30 May 2003. Gartner Research.

41. Technological hype cycleDavid Lamas, TLU, 201141

42. Technological hype cycle and adoption timingsDavid Lamas, TLU, 201142Linden, A. and Fenn, J. 2003. Understanding Gartner's Hype Cycles. Strategic Analysis Report R-20-1971. 30 May 2003. Gartner Research.

43. Related knowledge domainsHuman-computer interactionThe study of how people interact with computers and to what extent computers are or are not developed for successful interaction with human beings Recent advances in mobile, ubiquitous, social, and tangible computing technologies have moved human-computer interaction into practically all areas of human activityThis has led to a shift away from the usual stress on usability to a much richer scope of user experience, where user's feelings, motivations, and values are given as much, if not more, attention than efficiency, effectiveness and basic subjective satisfactionDavid Lamas, TLU, 201143

44. Related knowledge domainsInteraction designA design discipline dedicated to defining the behavior of artifacts, environments and systemsUser experience designThe field of user experience was established to cover the holistic perspective to how a person feels about using a system The focus is on pleasure and value rather than on performanceDavid Lamas, TLU, 201144

45. Human-computer interactionDavid Lamas, TLU, 201145

46. Human-computer interactionDavid Lamas, TLU, 201146

47. Interaction designDavid Lamas, TLU, 201147

48. User experience designDavid Lamas, TLU, 201148

49. User experience designDavid Lamas, TLU, 201149

50. But…Interactivityis not limited to technological systemsPeople have been interacting with each other as long as humans have been a speciesFrom this broader viewpoint, reasoning about interaction styles should also address the interaction between human beings by means of a interactive mediaDavid Lamas, TLU, 201150

51. Interaction styles recapEtymologyThe relation between the evolution of computing and the main interaction stylesThe technological hype cycle and adoption timingsRelated knowledge domainsBeyond interacting with digital mediaDavid Lamas, TLU, 201151

52. Two final questionsHow do you see the evolution of interacting with and through interactive media?Are natural user interfaces the future or part of the future?Are the previous interaction styles dead or condemned?Should mobile user interfaces be regarded as a completely new interaction style?If so, what would their distinctive characteristics be?David Lamas, TLU, 201152