proactive, reactive, cognitive, haptic, experiential, narrative, exploratory, collaborative, immersive interaction

1. Reactive Interaction

• Examples: App design with AI, interactive installations

• Definition: In reactive interaction, the system responds directly to user input. This includes apps or devices that react based on specific user actions and needs.

• Characteristics: Fast, immediate feedback (like pressing a button or issuing a voice command).

• Design Focus: Usability, intuitive design, and clear feedback loops.

• Industry Use:

  • Mobile Apps: Most mobile apps rely on reactive interactions, where users touch, swipe, or tap, and the system responds immediately (e.g., social media apps, e-commerce platforms).
  • IoT Devices: Smart home devices (like Alexa or Google Home) react to voice commands.

• Examples: Netflix’s recommendation system (reactive to user preferences), Google’s search interface (immediate response) | Very Nervous System, Pulse Room, Forest of Resonating Lamps

  In these installations, the system directly reacts to participant input—whether that’s movement, touch, sound, or other actions. The interaction is immediate, creating a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the participant’s behavior and the system's response.

2. Proactive Interaction

• Examples: AI-driven apps, personalized product design
• Definition: The system anticipates user needs or behaviors and acts proactively. AI apps that predict user preferences or automate certain actions fall into this category.
• Characteristics: Anticipatory design, personalized experience, sometimes requiring a balance between automation and user control. anticipating participant needs.
• Design Focus: Ethical design, privacy, seamlessness, and user agency.
• Industry Use:
  • AI & Machine Learning: Platforms like Amazon, Spotify, and Netflix use AI to predict user behavior and offer personalized recommendations.
  • Smart Devices: Proactive systems in smart homes or wearables (like health monitors) that anticipate user needs.
• Examples: Apple's Siri proactively suggests actions based on user patterns, Google Assistant offering reminders based on location or behavior.

3. Immersive Interaction

• Examples: MR, VR experiences, experiential installations
• Definition: Interaction that immerses users in virtual or augmented environments, often blending physical and digital elements.
• Characteristics: Multisensory engagement, spatial awareness, blending of real and virtual elements.