ABSTRACT
Interactive multimedia systems are often designed and
implemented primarily through intuition, and thus a
common language for creating an interactive experience is
needed for the interactive system developer. This paper
discusses building a language for an interactive experience
by outlining the steps required, and principles involved in
designing an interactive environment. A preliminary
language is achieved by offering a working definition for
interactivity, outlining the steps in the interactive process,
and discussing issues around the most important
component of the system – the user.
INTRODUCTION
“A technology is interactive to the degree that it reflects the
consequences of our actions or decisions back to us. It
follows that an interactive technology is a medium through
which we communicate with ourselves... a mirror.” [13]
This paper discusses ideas around building a language for
an interactive experience. A common language for concepts
and approaches to designing interactive environments is
needed because “research on multimedia system
development shows that contemporary multimedia systems
are designed and created primarily by intuition” [14]. To
tackle the problem, this paper begins by offering a working
definition for interactivity, and then proceeds to outline and
discuss the steps in the interactivity feedback process, from
capturing and interpreting information in the environment
to designing the user experience.
A DEFINITION FOR INTERACTIVITY
The word interactivity has become a problematic term. It is
used extensively to describe works of new media and
interactive art, encompassing everything from simple
hyperlinks to immersive virtual environments where the
user navigates a 3-dimensional space...