In the text A Brief Rant on the Future of Interaction Design, the author argues for a thoughtful approach to tool design, emphasizing that a tool’s primary function should be to serve human needs and enhance our innate abilities. The essence of his argument is that tools should not be valued merely for their aesthetics, but for their ability to improve our efficiency and effectiveness. He expresses a certain dissatisfaction with current technology, particularly critiquing devices he describes as “Pictures Under Glass.” He suggests that such technologies diminish the sensory richness and the interactive potential of our hands, more specifically our fingertips. He’s worried that focusing too much on making interfaces look good might make us forget how important it is to actually touch and interact with things around us.The author urges us to think about all the ways we can interact with tools, suggesting we use interfaces that involve more of our senses and movements. He believes that just using one finger on a touchscreen doesn’t make full use of our ability to move and feel.
In conclusion, the author calls for a future where technology development is inspired by the full range of human abilities. Instead of adapting to the constraints of existing technology, he challenges designers to envision tools that integrate seamlessly with human capacity for manipulation and sensory experience, fostering a more intuitive and enriching interaction with our tools.
As for his follow-up article, the author has replied to some critiques about his previous article on the future of interaction design, where he ranted about current tech not being up to par. He clarifies he wasn’t out to offer a solution but to spark deeper research into better solutions that really fit human capabilities. He’s not against current tech like iPhones or iPads, but he’s worried if we don’t push for more, we’ll get stuck with something that’s only a bit better than what we have. He’s not keen on just adding physical keyboards or styluses to our devices because that doesn’t really tap into the full experience of interacting with the world around us. And when it comes to voice commands, he thinks they’re fine for simple questions or tasks, but for more complex stuff like exploring ideas or creating art, they fall short.The author isn’t thrilled with tech that’s all about swiping on screens either. It might be easy, but it’s not making the most of what our bodies can do, and it could even hold back kids’ development because it’s not challenging them enough. He thinks we’re meant to interact with our world in more dynamic ways, and our future tech should reflect that.