Oct 19 2008
20 cool interaction design concepts
In this post we showcase twenty interaction design concepts, both 2D and 3D concepts. Every interaction designer out there should have a look at these concepts to get inspired! As the products are totally different they have not been ranked, just numbered, enjoy!
Do you know / have any other concepts that should be listed here feel free to contact us and we will add them to the list of ‘cool interaction design concepts’.
1 Generation random
As a celebration of ten years of graphic design studio ‘Lust’ the designers have developed ‘Generation random’. It is a touch screen (no, no multi touch screen!) that contains all the projects in boxes. These boxes interact with the device as each box has RFID tags. The contents of the box are displayed on the screen which you can browse.
The nice thing about ‘Generation random’ is that you have the multi touch feeling but still can do everything with single touch. It is a trend to use for every ‘touch’ concept multi touch screens but that does not necessarily make it better.
Also visit the Lust website
2 The liquid display
Designer Nicolas Büchi has designed an interactive display which is controlled by manipulating three cups of water. By entering your finger and moving around in the cup you control the size and frequency of the bubbles on the display.
In his bachelor project Nicolas shows how a physical interaction can operate a display. In his project it are the bubbles but this physical interaction can be brought back in many products. This could reduce the number of buttons while the interaction is playful and explorative. Does it have a good usability? Probably not, but it might be more joyful!
More about the liquid display here
3 Interactive water board
Designer Mike Burton has developed a wall of water, called ‘the Waterboard’. Is is in interactive whiteboard that allows users to manipulate the flow of water. The fun part is that the water can be manipulated by drawing lines that form objects or by use of actual physical objects such as…..humans!
Mike Burton somehow achieved to define what the water does in reality into formulas. When a bowl is drawn the water will keep flowing in the bowl and the water level rises. When the bowl is full the water will flow over the edge and continue its new course. In that way all different paths can be made as long as it goes downward.
Another interesting detail is that the water responds to the time it is not flowing. After a certain period the water will develop into a greenish goo with little flies circling above the water.
More about the interactive water board here
4 Nokia 888
Although this design by Tamer Nakisci is already three years old, it is still actual this day. He won the design competition of Nokia with this concept phone.
Concept description
The concept is a phone that can be bend in any shape you want. This allows it to be carried wherever you want; around your wrist, in your chest pocket or in your bag. By sending each other messages that contain emotions the phone can change its shape to fit the message. It can for example change its shape to a hart when someone sends his love towards that person.
5 Sony remote control (yes an apple!)
Designer Jason Roebuck has designed a remote control for Sony, and guess what, it is an apple! The concept is a bowl that has several apples; one for each family member. With the apple you can operate the television with gestures. The physical movement with the apple operates the television, by swaying the apple to the right you can increase the volume for instance. Once the apples are placed on the bowl they are being recharged again, probably through induction.
See also the portfolio of Jason Roebuck
6 Ripple faucet
The ‘RIpple Faucet’ designed by Smith Newnam brings new interactions to faucets. The faucets that we are used to have to manipulators; hot and cold that also controls the flow of the water, or with a thermostat faucet, one for the temperature and one for the flow. The design eliminates this separation of controlling the flow and temperature, with one single movements both can be set. (article continues below)
More about the ripple faucet here
7 The Cabinet
ave you ever collected images in nicely stacked piles of categories for inspiration? When you start designing and are looking for inspiration you are browsing through your images but you always can’t find that particular image you are searching for. Ianus Keller of the TU Delft developed ‘the Cabinet’ for his PHD to solve this problem.
The Cabinet collects and organizes images that designers use in their design work. The good part is that it can collect both digital as well physical artefacts. A booklet or magazine can be placed on the cabinet and with a flick of a button the image gets scanned and added to the collection.
More about the Cabinet here
8 Audiopad
James Patten and Ben Recht have developed the Audiopad, a multi touch screen that transforms motion into music. On the touch screen different parameters can be controlled be by dragging and resizing which directly influence the music you hear.
With traditional DJ sets and mixers the feedback is purely led lights that switch on or off while the audiopad also gives visual feedback on the touch screen. In our opinion this makes mixing / creating music a lot more intuitive as you don’t only have audible feedback but also visual feedback.
9 Goldfish bar
An interactive concept with a multi touch screen for a bar in a cafe or restaurant. You have some control over how the fishes will swim and move over the bar. Although it is mostly for decoration it has some nice touch to it. It is not overly present but you still have some fun with it if you have to wait for someone.
Via Vimeo
10 Iphone hologram
Although it looks simple, this little creature that in your iphone always keeps walking in 3D. It responds to the angle in which the Iphone is held and it constantly updates the perspective of the creature.
Via Vimeo and David Oreilly
11 Freespace of Hillcrest Labs
The company Hillcrest Labs has developed a pointer that allows users to point in 3D. The pointer uses motion control technology and can sense the motion in all three axis. In this way users can translate their physical movement to the cursor position and manipulate it like they were touching the screen.
Also visit the Hillcrest Labs website.
12 Made in China
The concept ‘MADE in China’ was the winner of the ‘Next-Gen pc competition’ in 2006 and was especially designed for the Chinese market. The product itself has no hardware like a CPU or hard drive, this infrastructure is provided by the service provider. Technically feasible? No. But it is a nice futuristic concept of how computers could change in the next decade.
The most interesting thing about this concept is that it breaths the Chinese, or Asian culture. You can drag and drop files with chopsticks and also the style of the concept has many Chinese characteristics. Compared to all the existing laptops a breath for fresh air!
See also the Next-Gen PC competition
13 Buttonless remote control
For his graduation project student Joris van Gelder designed a new concept for a buttonless remote control. The remote control for a television is operated by physical manipulation of the remote control. By pushing the top of the remote down or up the volume is set. By sliding your finger through the opening in the center the channel on the television goes one up or down.
Van Gelder has mentioned several times that the remote is developed for in the kitchen. It is possible to operate the remote control with dirty fingers since you will not touch the remote. We think such a remote control can be delivered, or additionally ordered, with a regular remote control since certain features cannot be accessed anymore with this remote. To use teletext or an electronic guide with this remote is unlikely. We would like to see this concept further develop that also operates other functions of the TV and can replace existing remote control
What is good about this concept is that it helps user to achieve their goals in a quick and easy way; adjusting the volume and changing the channel. Now lets brows through two hundred channels!
More about the buttonless remote control here
14 Wind 3.0
Studio Roosegaarde has designed interactive fibers combined with ventilators, called ‘Wind 3.0′. The concept exists out of one hundred fibers which move and interact with people that are passing by. It plays with the relation between nature and technology. Next to the fibers it uses hundred ventilators to add another sensation; wind!
See also Studio Roosegaarde
15 Interactive LED coffee table
‘Design-build studio Becausewecan’ has developed an interactive coffee table. It has 640 LED lights just below the glass surface which react to motion. If you ‘wave’ over the glass surface the LED lights will follow this motion by lightening up. The intensity of the light is linked to the distance between the surface and the table. The motion is detected by 32 active and passive near-infrared sensors.
See also Becausewecan and video via youtube
16 InTable
Design studio ’430 Limited’ has developed an interactive screen for on the bar in restaurants and cafes. The table responds on the objects that are placed on the table. Although customers can play with it the main advantage would be the promotion of drinks, offers or events.
See also HK430 Limited
17 Media cubes
With these two media cubes of Mattias Andersson you can control radio, television and media player function on a flat screen. Does it have good usability? No, but it is fun!
Gyroscopic sensors measure the movements of the cubes. They sent this signal with radio technology similar to wireless mouse technology. Charging of the cubes occurs through induction so you do not have to plug in a power jack.
More about the media cubes here
18 Table talk
Designers Marcus Ericsson, David Sjunnesson, John Eriksson and Minna Gedin have designed the ‘Table talk’. The table responds to speech and transforms the spoken words into colors that appear on the table. Their goal is to have a pleasurable, nice looking table but also to have a pattern which reflects the conversation between people.
See also the table talk site
19 Flicflex
Chris Woebken explores how the traditional way of browsing a photo album can be brought back in digital products. Instead of using traditional commands on the computer like ‘crop’, ‘rotate’ or ‘next the digital paper reacts to traditional (physical) gestures like; flipping and bending for example. This makes browsing and editing such an album more pleasurable and natural.
See also the site of Chris Woebken
20 Reactable
Designers Sergi Jordà, Günter Geiger, Martin Kaltenbrunner and Marcos Alonso have developed the ‘Reactable’. It is a multi touch table that allows multiple people to make music in a visual way. WIth different building blocks the sound can be manipulated on the screen. Traditional mixers or synthesizer only provide feedback through the position of the controls. With the Reactable you have both visual and audio feedback.
The basics
Demonstration
See also the Reactable site
21 MusicCube
Designer Miguel Bruns Alonso has developed the MusicCube. It is a cubical mp3 player without display or buttons. You operate the cube by rotating, shaking or pushing the cube together. On the top is the speaker which also functions as a control; you can rotate the inner cone to adjust the volume for example.
See also the site of Miguel Bruns Alonso
22 Attractable
The company called Atracsys has developed an interactive table that reminds us a lot of the Microsoft Surface table. The table can be developed for commercial applications such as a mobile phone shop. The phone can be placed on the table and all the functionalities can be browsed on the screen.
See also the site of Atracsys
23 Organigami
Designers Mireia Subirana and Iván Aguado have devevloped the ‘Organigami’. It is a multi touch table that allows multiple people to manipulate the ‘organic’ creature on te table. By scratching and pulling the visualized creature will respond by going into your direction for example. The table uses a beamer below the surface with a mirror to project the visualizations.
Via the Criterion site and see also the Organigami site
October 19th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
2 more!
Organigami:
http://www.criteriondg.info/wordpress/organigami-project/
AtracTable:
http://www.hometone.org/entry/atractable-present-your-ideas-and-products-innovatively/
October 19th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Hello Skeku,
Thanks for your suggestions, I will add them on short notice!
October 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Nice blog, I love to see this kind of content, keep up the good work.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
[...] 23 cool interaction design concepts [en] :: Entrada archivada en: creatividad,Diseño industrial,gadgets. | Puedes hacer un [...]
October 20th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
[...] conceptuales todavía en su mayoría…Tags: [...]
noticiasfrikis.com/2008/10/20/disenos-interactivos/ (Link not working)
October 20th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
For all of you that receive the error ‘Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player’ try to refresh the page to see all the videos.
October 21st, 2008 at 1:46 pm
[...] Interaction design, Un beso de Heidi en el aeropuerto de Zurich [...]
October 21st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
[...] Que está de moda. Y quien mejor que el blog Interaction design para realizar este recopilatorio con 20 diseños de interacción verdaderamente “cools”. Algunos de ellos ya están en la calle y otros en proceso de [...]
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Now everyone is talking about the American economy and eclections, nice to read something different. Eugene
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
20 Diseños Interactivos…
Aquí se recogen 20 diseños de productos que en un futuro podrían salir a la venta, aunque de momento son solo eso, diseños…
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Who ever said that waterboarding was torture? That looks awesome!
October 25th, 2008 at 1:36 am
[...] 20 cool interaction design concepts | Interaction design (tags: software interface lists interactive interaction inspiration hardware gui interactiondesign interaction_design inspiracion) [...]
October 27th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Multi-Touch Company http://hci.cn
October 29th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I realy like all the new interaction design concepts. realy nice software and GUI’s hope to see more on your blog sone! i am a interaction designer at Neto and we als do contepts like these.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
[...] 20 Cool interaction design concepts including the ‘buttonless remote‘ concept designed by Joris van Gelder [...]
November 5th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Thx for the 20 interaction design concepts. Really like the concept of the Sony wireless controls. Love to see the functional design of that concept!
November 6th, 2008 at 10:53 am
[...] Interaction Design Blog gibt es einen schönen Artikel mit 20 spannenden Konzepte zum Thema Mensch-Computer-Interaktion. [...]
November 6th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Hello Martijn,
Thanks for your comment. The Sony wireless (apple) is certainly interesting. I don’t think Jason Roebuck build a working prototype of it, but it would be good to see in in action.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
[...] interaction design blog has written a large post with over 20 interaction design concepts. Although some of them are around for quite some time there are some nice ones to [...]
November 16th, 2008 at 9:57 am
[...] 20 cool interaction design concepts | Interaction design [...]
December 29th, 2008 at 10:01 am
[...] Ver web site [...]
January 4th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
In my student days we built an interactive coffee table at Chalmers, Göteborg, Sweden.
Please enjoy
http://remotable.se/movie/
January 6th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for your tip, we will ad your movie to the post!
January 8th, 2009 at 11:21 am
[...] tasarımı konusunda son yıllarda yapılan en etkileyici konsept tasarımlarından örnekler verildi. “Interaction design blog”da verilen örneklerde, Nokia888, suyla etkileşim, [...]
January 13th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
[...] gig on the steps of the Sydney opera house under a full moon… what a night. But back to the blog about interactive design: my favourites, the bendy bangle phone and the mood [...]
January 16th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Nice Blog introducing us to great future!!!
January 26th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I do believe Interaction Design is more than interactive tabletops…
February 6th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I like the mobile phone Nokia 888, when can I have 1?
February 9th, 2009 at 3:38 am
nice
February 16th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Interaction design with haptic feedback:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEqIsdt4M3w
February 19th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
[...] een tweet van @timremmerswaal gevonden: “20 cool interaction design concepts”. Veel ‘touch table’-achtige toepassingen, waarbij op deze lijst de Siftables, die MIT [...]
March 18th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Wow simply awesome
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:44 pm
[...] like 20 cool interaction design concepts feature great innovative approaches to interaction. Reviewing them online doesn’t do them [...]
March 24th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
some other projects, from ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne (Media & Interaction Design Unit)
http://mid.ecal.ch/projects/2008-3cv-schec-cakeparty
http://mid.ecal.ch/projects/2008_3cv_schec_diplome
http://mid.ecal.ch/projects/2008_2cv_rudam_taubd_sevec_wellips
March 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Hello Alain,
Thanks for sharing the links, I will have a look at them and add them if they are interesting enough.
April 17th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Nice Stuff!!!
May 20th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Interesting stuff! I can’t help wondering which of these technologies will stand the test of time and become part of daily life.
May 21st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
@Neil,
Me too, which technology will be a standard technology in ten years? The multi touch tables are finding their way more and more in shops and public spaces. The more experimental concepts may not survive the ‘test of time’ but inspire us for sure!
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
[...] Interaktion [...]
August 19th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
The nokia concept touches the tip of the now exploding ideas of pervasive mobile experiences. If the nokia concept video was made today…I can see more contextual uses such as when the lady takes the book, the phone would scan the book for reviews, or even people nearby who have read the book.. When she accepted the invite to the party, she could see who of her friends are going to the party.. Maybe the focus of the designer was on the industrial design from the beginning. Anyway…nice blog! good to see all these innovative concepts!
October 6th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
[...] From the Interaction Design Blog [...]
October 19th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Wow this is cool.
January 4th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
You might consider mentioning Flyer Cafe (similar to no 16 but with a more practical purpose). During a ten-week studio project, the team of three built a technical proof of concept and a video simulation.
http://www.interaction-venice.com/courses/06-07Lab2/final-projects/flyer-cafe/
February 25th, 2010 at 5:58 am
I think all these concepts are brilliant, but I particularly loved the ‘Flicflex’ found the concept so simple and straight yet so cool. I mean the essence of the object does not change and it retains what it originally is.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Very nice insights and beautiful pictures.
March 21st, 2010 at 5:02 pm
[...] 20 cool interaction design concepts | Interaction design (tags: tvdigital) [...]
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:27 pm
I think it shold be better if you improve your web pege to interactivev version.Forexampel,if I read or watch a subject your your web adviseme to new link or show me in mni windows another related subjects.
At eny rate thankn youand nice job.
June 14th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Cool ideas for a glimpse into the future
August 6th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
There must be some very clever and imaginative interaction designers behind these projects. Great to see people experimenting and pushing technological limits. Thanks for sharing!
September 21st, 2010 at 12:33 pm
[...] the irony of the Apples for Window, but, again maybe thats just me. Anyway here’s the link. http://www.interactiondesignblog.com/2008/10/20-cool-interaction-design-concepts/ This entry was posted in Thoughts And Musings. Bookmark the permalink. ← Further [...]
September 21st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
[...] Something I found quite awesome [...]
September 21st, 2010 at 1:01 pm
[...] Something I found quite awesome. [...]
October 28th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
[...] website has 23 videos about different displays, tables, and other products that people interact with. There are tables [...]
November 3rd, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Hi, you should check this out to see a totally new form of interaction (place a ball midair and it will stay there)! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF2gExHyd5k – Please leave a comment
November 4th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Muy buen artículo. Este blog es genial, sigue así!
February 21st, 2011 at 11:33 am
The most interesting gadget seems to be the MusicCube. The designer Miguel Bruns Alonso it is really very good and it has a great imagination.
February 23rd, 2011 at 3:34 pm
The test with the liquid display seems to be the most interesting. The butonless remote control it’s very well designed. I’ve just hope to see this remote live, on the future TVs.
February 28th, 2011 at 2:38 am
[...] Interaction Design, a blog about interaction design and usability [...]
March 12th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
I like the Music Cube. Seems to be a very interesting gadget. I cannot see any info about the price available for these gadgets. Are just prototypes ?
July 9th, 2011 at 1:59 am
Thanks for the informative article, I loved reading this.
July 9th, 2011 at 2:01 am
The videos and the posts are awesome. I love coming to this site and reading all the political postings that are on here. Thanks.
July 15th, 2011 at 8:30 am
i play with water to get wet
August 27th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
I realy like all the new interaction design concepts.
September 13th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
great post i just got in to rc gadgets myself!
September 15th, 2011 at 6:15 am
Thanks Even so I?｡･m encountering predicament with ur rss. joelferdon@gmail.com
September 30th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Quite awestome post. Too Accurate
September 30th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
I can say doing so is one of the few blogs worth reading. Well Stated!
September 30th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
I couldn’t concur far more. Properly Said!
September 30th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Doing so is among the few blogs worth reading.
September 30th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
How great is doing so submission. Effectively Delivered!
September 30th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Good article, really true, maybe a puny too correct. Properly Delivered!
September 30th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Good submission, very true, perhaps a wee too accurate. Effectively Said!
October 2nd, 2011 at 2:09 pm
It’s rare to find an expert in whom you might have some trust. In the world these days, nobody genuinely cares about showing others the solution in this matter. How blessed I am to have definitely found such a wonderful blog as this. It’s people like you who make a real difference in this world through the ideas they reveal.
October 25th, 2011 at 5:15 am
[...] just every day examples of commonly existing and widely used forms of Interaction Design, and more exciting technologies are constantly becoming more and more readily available, such as advanced touch screens, movement [...]
November 7th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Nice Stuff!!!
November 7th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Thanks for your suggestions, I will add them on short notice!
November 7th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
I couldn’t concur far more.
November 15th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Great stuffs and pretty inovative http://www.psdbucket.com/cinematic-text-effects-photoshop-styles
November 30th, 2011 at 11:56 am
Nice Stuff!
December 14th, 2011 at 10:45 am
For all of you that receive the error ‘Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player’ try to refresh the page to see all the videos.
January 13th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
[...] though. Plus, I have found some really impressive installations, such as the examples of the interaction design blog. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. ← Previous [...]
February 8th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
cribbble
Unfortunately, no. I know that there are some patches coming down the line, but I don’t know how many or what’s in them. The only ones I know for certain is that we have the CSW Expansion, a fix for the Priest weapon upgrade bug, and apparently a lot of the bugged quests are getting fixed as well. Beyond that, I’ve got no further details. Results and updates pending.
February 11th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
you problably have answered this many times but why you removed ability for kingofknights to track users? i mean their system was perfect, players i met ingame who were marked red were actually cheaters and were constantly cheating. And there was actual place where u could see how is server going, how many cheaters are there ingame.
biletul zilei
February 17th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
An account is only able to have one form of Premium access active at any given time. You can refresh your Premium by purchasing a new one within three days of your current form expiring. In the case of Discount or Experience Premium, however, you need to wait until it completely expires even down to the last hour. To that same end you cannot purchase a DISC or EXP Premium Voucher until your Premium expires.
optimizare google
March 7th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
GamersFirst employees are not allowed to contact or hold conversations with users via any non-official means. Private e-mail, instant message services, Ventrillo voice chats, telephone calls… those are all off-limits. On a similar note, if anyone ever claims to be a GM or GamersFirst employee via those mediums, they’re lying to you.
optimizare web
March 7th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
you say all these numbers about APR bans how come we can still see some of the most well known k0xpers etc running around? answer: alot of hack programs have another program called multiclient which disables APR. solution: APR ban every player in each server for 10 minutes and then the players that are still online are the ones using hacks (ban them). repeat this process for each server.
favwork
March 13th, 2012 at 6:49 am
[...] source http://www.interactiondesignblog.com/2008/10/20-cool-interaction-design-concepts/ last accessed 13/03/2012 From ChrisHarrison.net "We present OmniTouch, a novel wearable [...]
March 14th, 2012 at 11:42 am
When say you go in and purge the servers of inactive clans or those with one or two members, do you mean you the publishers or they, the developers? And when can we expect to see the servers purged? Cannot create clans on several servers has been noticed for at least a month now.
here
March 14th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
My actual title within the company is “Community and Media Specialist”, as I handle a lot of the public and multimedia aspects not only in KOL, but in our other game titles as well. However, that’s just two of the many hats I wear around here. I’m a GM, a Community Liaison, a Media Specialist, a video editor, graphic designer, customer support, database assistant…
costume
March 14th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
@MrSpidey
(Referring to post #2484, and referencing a post from Korlash discussing the topic)
How much truth is then in this thread about Korlash talking about a new server before the winter?
Come on, MrSpidey, I know your critical thinking is better than this.
llie
April 1st, 2012 at 2:37 pm
I am curious, can you tell us which and amount of serverhardware you’re using for KO? (processor, memory, Windows version, etc)
Does KO run on its own serverhardware or is it sharing with other games you G1 host?
tips
April 26th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
AWESOME design ideas here! Need to spend a serious amount of time here just to process everything haha.
Thanks a ton for posting!
Ben