What follows is not an attempt at defining our domain, although it can be read that way, but it is my understanding as to why IxD currently evades a concise definition.
Interaction design is, for me and in a sentence, the creation of a contextual language that allows systems to interact. At a very high level I see humans & machines as systems with capabilities, limitations and very different methods of communicating with their surroundings. I would also point out that one of those 'systems' is currently experiencing an exponential growth in complexity. The role of Interaction design has come about as a result of Moore's Law (which in itself is a product of human evolution). As computer systems and their capabilities have become more complex, so to has its vocabulary when tasked with interacting with us, the human 'system'. As technology, at a singular level and as a network, evolves it is the role of those responsible for effective communication to reinterpret the playing field and create a language suitable for the given capabilities, goal & context for that point in time. What we create today would not be the same a year ago, or a year from now, if goals/motivations/users we the same. Technology evolves and so to does our understanding of it both as users and designers. As the capabilities of technology accelerate the field of design responsible for enabling communication will evolve. We will constantly re-evaluate the rules and re-invent our roles. Definitions be damned, we are fulfilling a role. We do not need PR, good or bad, we do not need to market our trade. The forces that brought about our role are too strong to be swayed imho. regards /pauric p.s. Its with a little trepidation that I post this, I'll be the first to admit that it sounds a little nuts. Again I'm not defining our role but trying (poorly) to explain why it came about and why it will continue to change. Kevin Kelly proposes that Technology is the 7th kingdom and I see us as the translators to that 'domain' http://www.edge.org/documents/archive/edge217.html#kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=40375 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
