Interaction Design

Abhishek Shrivastava, PhD

Department of Design IIT Guwahati
Interaction • Operational descriptions of how
model interaction proceeds
• Help conceptualise interactions, a.k.a.
conceptual model
• Refined through iterations and testing
Interaction • “a description of the proposed system in
model terms of a set of integrated ideas and
concepts about what it should do,
behave and look like, that will be
understandable by the users in the
manner intended”

J. Preece, Y. Rogers, H. Sharp. Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer

Interaction. John Wiley and Sons (2007).
Categories • Many different kinds, and keep evolving
of • Two main categories
interaction – Based on activities
model – Based on objects
Interaction • Instructing
model based • Conversing
on activities • Manipulating and navigating
• Exploring and browsing

J. Preece, Y. Rogers, H. Sharp. Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer

Interaction. John Wiley and Sons (2007).
Instructing • Users instruct the system to perform the
Interaction model task of interest
based on activity
• Different from ‘task delegation’
– e.g. Print the document, Tell the time, Read the
news, Initiate an activity based on schedule like
reminders and notifications, read text from the
screen etc.

J. Preece, Y. Rogers, H. Sharp. Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer

Interaction. John Wiley and Sons (2007).
Instructing • Command based applications and tasks
Interaction model – e.g. Word processing and formatting, Word
based on activity count, Counting first few registrations, deadline
management, e-mail filters, picture slideshows,
copy and paste, Open link in a new tab, Use
already added passenger details, Deliver to a
pre-specified address, Arrange as type,
frequency, or size; etc.
Instructing • Benefits
Interaction model – Deliver quick and efficient interactions
based on activity
– Handle “repetitive” tasks involving multiple
objects
• e.g. Filter all your email messages with the
tag“Interaction Design”, and then move to the
folder “DD301”
Instructing • Pitfalls
Interaction model – Complex task involving too many instructions
based on activity
• Heavy demand on users’ short term memory
• Prone to errors
Instructing
Interaction model
based on activity
Instructing
Interaction model
based on activity
Conversing • User converses with the system
Interaction model – User and the system talk to each other
based on activity
– System acts as dialog partner
– Unlike “instructing”, it is more a two way
communication

J. Preece, Y. Rogers, H. Sharp. Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer

Interaction. John Wiley and Sons (2007).
Conversing • Applications aimed at “finding specific
Interaction model information” or “resolving concerns”
based on activity
Conversing
Interaction model
based on activity
Conversing • Advantages
Interaction model • Enable users, especially novices, to interact
based on activity with the interactive artifact
• “How do I … (plain english) ?”
• Can help persuade people to complete a task
Conversing • Disadvantages
Interaction model • Can result in unintended delays in completing
based on activity the task
• May lead to unreasonable expectations from
the interactive artifact
– Trade-off in terms of making the interactive
artifact natural (as another human) versus
matching users’ expectations
Conversing • Disadvantages
Interaction model • Error recovery may be difficult
based on activity
• Heavy demands on users’ short term memory if
the task is complex
Manipulating • Users manipulate objects and navigate
and through virtual spaces
navigating – Manner of performing the activities of
Interaction model “manipulation” and “navigation” may or may not
based on activity reflect real world

J. Preece, Y. Rogers, H. Sharp. Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer Interaction. John Wiley and Sons
(2007).
Manipulating
and
navigating
Interaction model
based on activity
Manipulating Frequency equalizer

and Low 6 Low cut 5

navigating
Interaction model
Med Med freq 8
based on activity 7

High 7

Reset Cancel Ok
Manipulating • Direct manipulation (Ben Schneiderman, 1983)

and • 3 fundamental properties

navigating – continuous representation of objects and actions of
Interaction model interest
based on activity
– immediate feedback about the object of interest
– Issue commands in a specified syntax physical actions
(e.g. button or key presses, drag and dropping etc.)
Manipulating • Direct manipulation (Schneiderman, 1983)
and • Advantages
navigating – Help novices interact with the artifact
Interaction model
– Help experts work with ease and speed
based on activity
– Help infrequent users utilise memory aids
– Lessening requirement for error prompts- users can
see consequences of their actions
– Lesser anxiety, better confidence and control
Exploring • Interactions where users explore and browse
and for information of interest
browsing • Based on how users would do similar activity
Interaction model
based on activity using other media in their physical worlds
– E.g. books, magazines, libraries, information booklets
and directories, news portals, online public
directories, etc.

J. Preece, Y. Rogers, H. Sharp. Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer Interaction. John Wiley and Sons
(2007).
Exploring • Information structuring becomes crucial
and – e.g. Category formation, meaningful nomenclature,

browsing linkages and interconnections

Interaction model
based on activity

Photo courtesy of https://www.craigslist.org/about/sites

Interaction • Based on objects or artifacts often with
model based respect to something in the physical world
on objects – Analogous to some specific object or artifact in a
particular context

• Make use of interface metaphors

What we’ve covered

Interaction model based
on activities
- Instructing
- Conversing
- Manipulating and
navigating
- Exploring and browsing
Interface • Metaphors in interface design are references to:

metaphors – certain aspects of a physical entity (or entities) in a

specific context
• Interpretation and meaning

• Usage, functions and behavior

• Manipulation

• Shape and size

• Colour and form

• Interaction with the other entities and with its context,

etc.

J. Preece, Y. Rogers, H. Sharp. Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer Interaction. John Wiley and Sons
(2007).
Interface • Metaphors in interface design are references
metaphors to:
– certain aspects of a physical entity (or entities) in a
specific context
• Interpretation and meaning, colour and form
Interface • Metaphors in interface design are references
metaphors to:
– certain aspects of a physical entity (or entities) in a
specific context
• Usage, functions and behaviour

Image courtesy https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/macos/icons-and-images/system-icons/

Interface • Metaphors in interface design are references
metaphors to:
– certain aspects of a physical entity (or entities) in a
specific context
• Manipulation, Shape and size

Image courtesy http://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-racing-wheels and https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1096996

https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1525/15257558/2609259-0979586478-xbox_.jpg
Interface • Interaction models based on metaphors
metaphors inherit or mimic certain aspects of the
objects or artifacts in the physical world
but (often) have their own behavior and
properties
• Bringing familiarity with the new
concepts or ideas
Interface • Extensively utilization in Interface design

metaphors – e.g. Scroll bar, tool bar, settings, desktop,

windows, files and folders, internet highway,
numbers, accordion menu, cut and paste, drag
and drop, calendar etc.

• Enables a way to conceptualise a specific

way of interacting
• Enables a way of describing computing
artifacts
• Nomenclature for describing activities
Interface • Brings familiarity and ease of learning
metaphors • Help users make sense of (or understand)
interactive artifacts
• Help them articulate their actions while
interacting
Interface • Be cautious of;
metaphors – Literal translations of (certain aspects of)
objects and entities in the physical world
– Using metaphor which are too constraining or
limiting - present new concepts and ideas with
familiarity
– Helping your users understand new concepts
– Think of alternate ways of sustaining interactions
e.g. locating a specific folder in a huge library
Evaluating • Can be evaluated across three
interaction dimensions
models – Descriptive power
• Can it help describing a significant range of
existing interfaces?
– Evaluative power
• Can it help assess multiple design alternatives?
– Generative power
• Can it help designers create new designs?

Beaudouin, M. Designing interaction, not interfaces. AVI '04, May 25-28, 2004, Gallipoli (LE), Italy
Summary • Interaction models
Interaction model – Operational descriptions of how interaction
proceeds
– Two main categories

• Based on activities
– (1) Instructing, (2) conversing, (3) manipulating and
navigating, (4) exploring and browsing

• Based on objects
– Use of interface metaphors

• Interaction models are not mutually

exclusive