Interactions | Different types of interactions with technology

What is a technical interface? Why is it needed?

A technical interface is the bridge between the system and its external entities (humans or otherwise). Interfaces enable a communication channel through which information is exchanged.

The interface is required to enable interactions. It gives us the ability to control machines and thus get the tasks done. Historically interfaces were developed to let general people use multi-utility systems and to provide custom control of these systems.

Different types of interactions with technology

If we notice our interactions with technology, they can be majorly put into 3 buckets: 1) System Feedback, 2) Custom control of the system, and 3) System presenting information. Let’s go into each one of these in a bit of detail.

1. System Feedback → The primary purpose of an interface is to provide feedback to the user. This feedback tells the user that their input was received and processed by the system. Without this feedback, the user would feel disconnected from the system and unsure if their actions were being registered.
   ~ Imagine the click sound of a mechanical light switch, or backlight in an elevator switch when you press it.
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2. Custom control of the system → The next type of interactions involve providing systems-specific instructions. As systems have evolved, we've moved from systems with a single purpose to systems that allow users to provide instructions to complete complex tasks in a specific way. This increased level of interaction allows users to customize the system and make it more useful for their individual needs. It also allows users to tailor the system's output to meet their specific requirements.
   ~ This led to tools like levers, pulleys, and gears being used. They have taken the shape of UI, keyboard, and mouse in the modern era.
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3. System presenting information → The modern era of interactions is focused on making information accessible and actionable for users in an efficient manner. This is accomplished through the use of various modalities, such as screens, audio, and other sensory inputs.
   ~ Screens and speakers are the tools to make this happen.

Why do interfaces need to change?

I believe there is a high need to look at how we interact with technology. Not just software but the entire technology. We need to look at it as a whole, the interaction between machines and humans. With the advent of human-machine integration, and ambient systems, it is all the more needed.

I will pen down the key points that we can ponder while figuring out the next interface.

Central Attention → Our current technical interfaces are majorly centralized. We need to put our full central attention to any type of interaction with the technical systems. They are designed in a way to carve us out of our surroundings and give them every unit of our attention. While this is needed for the 3rd type of interaction, it ain’t always necessary for 1st, and 2nd. For system feedback and system customizations, I believe our peripheral attention can also play a role. It is very important for us to note this point because technical systems around are increasing but we only have limited central attention to give. As per research, our brain can only keep 6 pieces of information at one go to make a decision. Giving away central attention stops us from being more present and attending to our objectives.

Limited interaction bandwidth → Also, our interaction bandwidth with machines is limited in the current forms. By interaction, we mean the information transfer from humans to machines and vice versa. Increasing the size of screens and other interfaces isn't a practical solution in the long term. To enable human-machine integration a more robust and fluid interaction is required. So that we can pass more information, and receive more information in a variety of formats, with less effort. One way to consider this is the utilization of peripheral attention which can primarily process more information than central information.

Both the above-mentioned pain points also limit us to place technologies and interfaces where the centralized nature of technologies cannot be used. Like an emergency room where technical suggestions can be helpful but the staff cannot put their efforts in order to make machines work in that critical moment. Machines need to do that work, which is not possible with our current interaction methods.  There are also tons of other similar use cases where we can discuss a similar situation.

What would the ideal interface look like?

It's a significant challenge to describe a truly ideal interface because it's impossible to design a single interface that will work perfectly for every specific use case. However, I'd like to explore some of the key considerations that should be taken into account when designing any interface, particularly for the next era. As time goes on, this list can be expanded and improved upon.

An ideal interface should have the following qualities.

1. Fluid - An ideal interface should be as fluid and natural as possible, almost like a conversation with a friend. It should be able to anticipate the user's intent and adapt to their needs. The best interfaces will feel intuitive and require very little conscious effort to use. They should allow the user to focus on the task at hand, rather than the interface itself. Ultimately, the goal of an ideal interface is to make technology feel invisible and allow the user to achieve their goals without frustration.
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2. Ubiquitous - A truly ubiquitous interface will be available to the user at all times, but won't get in the way when it's not needed. It should be ready to assist when needed, but also be able to fade into the background and let the user focus on their task without distraction. It should be able to weave into the background.
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3. Built for conscious as well as sub-conscious brain - An ideal interface should be sensitive to the user's level of attention and mental bandwidth. It should be able to distinguish between when the user is focused and "in the zone", and when they're more relaxed and thinking in the background. Based on this, the interface can adapt and provide just the right amount of information and interaction. This allows the user to stay productive without feeling overwhelmed or distracted. It will be able to utilize both central and peripheral attention in the process.