The presentation blurb on the User Experience Network site reads,
A new inflection point in human-computer interaction is upon us. Along with other technologies, Microsoft Surface marks a departure from graphical user interface or GUI into the world of Natural User Interface or NUI. This talk begins with discussion of emotional design and its importance in the future of society. The lens shifts to how one design team is thinking about designing for a new era in which emotional intent and intuitive interaction are the imperative. Using theoretical models drawn from a mix of history, science, philosophy, and even video game design, this presentation reveals principles behind experience design for Microsoft Surface and beyond.Really enjoyed August's style of presenting and came away with a fresh perspective and renewed interest in Natural User Interface (NUI) design.
Of particular interest to me was the discussion around the Mechanics - Dynamics - Aesthetics (MDA) framework and its implications. August explained that users first become aware of, and appraise, the Aesthetics of a system. From there, moving gradually through an exploration of the Dynamics toward the Mechanics. August made the point that designers, on the other hand, often begin with the Mechanics, working through Dynamics toward the Aesthetics.
August went onto link Mechanics with the feel of quality, mentioning the work of Shigeru Miyamoto and his attention to detail when designing the Mechanics of games at Nintendo.
A few of my random thoughts from the presentation:
- a table is kinda big, considering the trend is overwhelmingly toward mobile devices.
- in a business environment, I can see the benefits of sitting around the interface campfire, but I think interacting with computers for many people is a more personal activity. Or maybe that's just the way we've been forced to use them so far...
- I'd be interested in the ergonomic impacts of looking down at a table top all day.
Seamless Design - closing the gap, or smoothing the transition between the real and the digital.August highlighted both of these as being super design principles and to me they both seem especially relevent to the design of virtual spaces environments.
Spatial Design - moving from interacting with a 2D environment toward interacing in 3D environments.
Posts
4 comments:
Marcus, a thought provoking post! Especially your two pointer:
a) a table is kinda big, considering the trend is overwhelmingly toward mobile devices
b)in a business environment, I can see the benefits of sitting around the interface campfire, but I think interacting with computers for many people is a more personal activity. Or maybe that's just the way we've been forced to use them so far...
The last point about working on a computer being a personal activity is amazingly interesting. For as human we love to interact however computer and even its predecessor (well, kind of) Typewriter were all made for an individual. These two were results of the prevailing technological development around the time that they came over the horizon. As we started to interact with them more and more we became used to the ‘Personal Computer’ paradigm - however technology is back and this time it wants us to revert to our natural group think tendencies.
I also found, this part a worth mulling over "I'd be interested in the ergonomic impacts of looking down at a table top all day." Yes you are right, this would be another behavioural shift, and promises to be interesting to watch. What intrigued me was your point about 'Spatial Design - moving from interacting with a 2D environment toward interacting in 3D environments.' May be I am missing something here but can you say a little more about how you see this as a transition from 2D to 3D? Because I was still viewing Microsoft Surface, as a 'surface'. Do write if you like.
Thanks for your feedback Saurabh. I'm glad you found it worth reading. If you ever get the chance to catch August speak, I'd really recommend it.
I agree with you that it will be facinating to see how these types of technologies affect how personal our computers remain. I'm sure marketing will see that there is something for everyone.
You're absoloutly right, Microsoft Surface is still a 2D interface. I can't speak for Augustus but I interpreted his introduction of the Spatial Design principle as being more about the way in which we interact with the interface. With an interface like Microsoft Surface, we can interact with the computer in a much more natural way - similar to how we manipulate things in our 3D world. Thus NUI ;) .
An amusing image came to me while I was considering this point that I'd like to share with you. I'm sure that you've often stood at a window, looking out over a scene that interests you - maybe a city scape from an office building or your own garden from a room in your house. Whatever. You are in one 3D environment and there is another 3D environment spreading out before you. The only thing seperating the 2 environments is a single pane of glass - a single 2D surface. Now imagine that you had the ability to manipulate the other environment by interacting with that glass surface...
Mind you, I can only see that type of interaction being an intermediary diversion until the plethora of augmented reality devices coming through development become readily available. Then we can open the window and step on through.
Cheers.
'Standing and looking out of the Window' analogy is mind opening - great perspective Marcus.
Please keep writing!
Couple of interesting points in this thread over at IxDA related to this post.
Post a Comment