The Art of Interactive Design
The chapter begins with an interesting argument on the term interactive. With the increased usage of the word in recent times, it becomes essential to understand what it means to be interactive. The writer has beautifully put forward his explanation of the term using the metaphor of a conversation. Breaking down interactivity into three major processes, the writer has compared it to the actions of listening, thinking, and reacting while having a conversation. The analogy of a conversation and the interactive process resonated with my understanding of the term.
He further stresses the importance of having two purposeful mediums to produce an interaction. He makes it very clear that if only one actor is present, it becomes more of a reaction than an interaction. The examples illustrated by the writer allowed me to grasp the difference between a reaction and an interaction.
While the writer agrees that some people would not approve of his classification of action as a mere reaction, he has elaborated on the subjectivity of the interactive process by introducing the concept of degree in interactivity. Hence, a passive interaction could be classified as an interaction at a low level.
To make his stance better understood, the writer goes on to discuss the different types of conversation you can have based on the person you are talking to and has used this explanation to classify activities such as reading and watching movies as non-interactive. Finally, he talks about graphic designing and the need to integrate interactivity into it.
The chapter was a thought-provoking read, and to a large extent, I agree with the writer on his definition of the interactive process.