Are we really going to accept an Interface Of The Future that is less expressive than a sandwich?
The warning about avoiding the body’s natural interfaces inspires reflection about the effects of immobile futures. Despite the simplicity and accessibility of touchscreens, the absence of tactile interactions raises concerns about the long-term impact on human development. Some of the consequences are already visible, such as an increase in bad posture, poor eyesight or decreased attention span. The rant invites to contemplate the depth of interaction design in the context of adult capabilities, expressing the notion that a fully-functioning adult human deserves interfaces that go beyond the simplicity of existing touch-based interactions. However, it is interesting to imagine the alternatives. As discussed in the second reading, many more expressive options are simply not optimal, such as voice or gestures. Even besides their limitations, just thinking about having to control the multiple windows on my laptop with a hand gesture in a cafe or another public space makes me uncomfortable, not to mention the discomfort associated with voice commands. I think this is where a lot of difficulties emerge as well – as a society we are already on a path to a screen-based future, and some deep habits have already been formed. This is where the challenge arises. We’re already heading towards a screen-centric future, and deep-rooted habits have taken hold. Transitioning to more expressive interactions would face resistance, as significant changes are often taken pessimistically and lack widespread support. This reluctance makes achieving a shift towards more expressive interfaces even more challenging.