Through the reading “A Brief Rant of the Future of Interaction Design,” I was convinced that the Future of Interaction should not be a single finger and should have good feedback, and I think big innovations needs to raise the usefulness of current things. It is problematic that most Future Interaction Concepts completely ignore parts of the body we rely on. If Pictures Under Glass were an invention when the ipad or touch-screen phones were not yet made, then perhaps it would be considered a good advancement (that still needs further improvement on interaction). Pictures Under Glass looks similar to the current phone or ipad, and I think I was visioning a different way of seeing andinteracting with things you find in the phone or ipad in the future – like content you can swipe and change up in the air (is this a good thing or not?). While watching the video “Microsoft – Productivity Future Vision”, I felt I was looking for something useful, something more. For example, I think the translation using what you see with your glasses looks very useful. If you can make your recipes while reading what you need up in the air, this could be useful because you just need to look up from the food. If things look futuristic simply for the sake of looking futuristic, is that really progress or moving backward?
However, I do disagree with one definition used for a tool (“A tool addresses human needs by amplifying human capabilities”) as I think a tool can address human needs in another way, such as by helping open up a new possibility for humans rather than amplify existing human capabilities. Another definition of a ‘tool’ strikes me well: “That is, a tool converts what we can do into what we want to do. A great tool is designed to fit both sides.” I have never thought of it that way and I sure do agree with this one.
As for the second reading, I was reminded of my experience with virtual reality, when I tried to touch objects I see in the air but not feel feedback. I was still amazed by what I experienced, but imagine if two people were learning fencing in a virtual world without feeling the weight of the weapon and its impact on the opponent’s weapon – I really think that’s not going to work… Also, while virtual reality is cool, like the author, I also have a problem with a future where people can and will spend their lives completely immobile, if they spend all their time on computers that are not part of the physical environment. That is unhealthy, and the inventions should be used to help people and encourage them in taking good actions.