Chris Crawford’s “The Art of Interactive Design” emphasizes the importance of interactivity as more than just a simple response to input. Crawford defines true interactivity as a system’s ability to listen, think, and respond, much like a conversation. This approach highlights the need for thoughtful engagement between the user and the system, ensuring that interactions feel dynamic and meaningful. Systems that effectively apply this model create ongoing exchanges, where both user and system influence each other, ultimately making the user feel actively involved and engaged in the process.
In improving the level of interactivity in my p5.js sketches, I aim to apply these concepts by going beyond simple triggers and creating a more thoughtful, adaptive experience. Instead of a one-time action from the user generating a single response, I want the system to react dynamically, changing multiple aspects of the sketch based on continuous input. For example, rather than a simple click to trigger an animation, the user’s actions could influence multiple variables like movement, color, and object behavior, creating a more engaging and evolving experience. Crawford’s “listening, thinking, and responding” approach can help me develop sketches that offer a richer interaction and make the user feel more connected to the experience.