Interaction design

The Microft surface table is introduced in the Shariton hotels. Earlier we wrote about the unveiling of the new surface table and the introduction at AT&T. As with the surface tables at AT&T the ones for the Shariton are specially programmed for this hotel chain. But the working principle remains the same: navigating through the menu by touch or multi touch. [Continue reading...]

The company ‘Visual Planet’ has developed interactive foil that can be used as a touch screen. One major advantage is that it can be glued on every surface that is not metallic. Consider the possibilities. Now displays in public will get vandalized less easy as the display (read foil!) can be glued on the inside of windows / plastics.

Two configurations
The foil comes in two configurations; a see through window configuration or an interactive poster configuration. Especially the see through configuration has a lot of potential as it keeps working with a glass thickness of 25 mm. This more ‘vandalize proof’ display could open doors for such displays at buss stops, shopping centers that lack the social control at certain times during the day. [Continue reading...]

What is actually the difference between interface and interaction design?

The term ‘interface design’ suggests that in web design the coding, users and how a message is relayed (interface) can be regarded separately. One major problem of isolating design at the interface level is that it allows programmers, or product designers to reason that an interface will be glued on it afterwards. It postpones design after programming or sketching. If you want to offer a carefully designed user experience all three components support the user experience.

‘Behavioural design’ tells how the product (website or consumer product) should respond and communicate to users. Like behavioural designers interaction designers also work from the inside out. Interaction designers start with the goals user want to achieve and distillate that into broader goals.

‘Conceptual design’ takes it even one level deeper; instead of looking at the goals it looks at the what is valuable for the users. The way to fulfil this is still open, it could be a new product, but suits better to the needs of users.

Where does the interaction designer belong? In all of them! The interaction designer first investigates what is most valuable for users by thinking conceptually, after that the behaviour gets detailed; how should the user fulfil his goals and finally at an interface level. How should the interface look like to get this particular user experience? [Continue reading...]

With the introduction of Microsoft surface and the Iphone many people wonder if the new windows platform (Windows 7) will support a multi touch screen as well. It seems it will [Continue reading...]

In earlier posts we wrote about the usability of one particular parking meter in the Netherlands and proposed two interface alternatives. After discussing both concepts one interface has been further developed. [Continue reading...]

A while ago we wrote about the poor usability of parking meters. We now would like to share two alternatives for operating a parking meter. [Continue reading...]

Some time ago we wrote about the coffee table of Microsoft; Microsoft surface. At that time it was clear several companies were interested, including casino’s, hotels and T-mobile. AT&T earned the scoop [Continue reading...]

What is actually the difference between interface and interaction design?

The term ‘interface design’ suggests that in web design the coding, users and how a message is relayed (interface) can be regarded separately. [Continue reading...]

Microsoft has presented a new device, called the ‘Microsoft Surface’ and guess what it is? A coffee table, that should amaze the world, right? [Continue reading...]