A Brief Rant on the Future of Interaction Design
From a psychological perspective, the author’s critique makes total sense because it values the sensual experience over the aesthetical and fancy way of an interactive system. For instance, in the book I once read, O’Keane (2022) suggests that “one makes sense of the world through one’s senses and this becomes the basis for one’s interpretation of the world and for one’s memory.” There is actually one type of memory which is called haptic memory which is the form of sensory memory specific to touch stimuli. So, I believe the author’s argument is very clear and in touch with the specific research in psychology.
However, the article did not offer clear and specific solutions to what can we do as an alternative. I think the author could have provided some options that are available today and that focus somehow on the haptic aspect. For example, Humane™ just launched its much-awaited #hardware device, which has been purpose-built for the new AI era from the ground up: here is the video. It is more human-centered design in technology and it gives an option for manipulating the technology with our hands.
A follow-up article
I think that most of my own critiques and questions from the previous article were answered in this follow-up. I think that authors should respond to critique to engage with readers, gain valuable insights, improve their work, and build a supportive community. Responding to the critique fosters a connection, and enhances the collaborative nature of the creative process.
I genuinely believe that his ideas about giving up on our bodies are so important to talk about. This reminded me of a conversation that I had with my friend about what art is. Today, we tend to think that art is AI-generated images, temporary installations, etc. However, I think art is deteriorating as we rely less on hands-on craftsmanship like it was before for building sculptures and architecture (e.g. Acropolis of Athens). By embracing technology, we risk losing the tactile connection that brings authenticity and soul to artistic creations.