Interaction

Early radio

Modelling Communication

Feedback

Interaction…

in Sociology• Sociology sees interaction as

something that involves a reciprocal relationship between people

• Therefore in sociology you can have communication without interaction, but not interaction without communication

• In sociology ‘interaction’ rather than ‘interactivity’

in Computer Science• In the study of human computer

interaction - Interaction is something that is used to allow the human user to control the computer

• Therefore in HCI you can have interaction without communication, but not communication without interaction

• ‘Interaction’ = ‘interactivity’

in Communications Theory• Three key meanings• The meaning of a media text exists

somewhere between what is written and how the reader interprets it

• Audience interaction associated with the media

• Two step processes associated with message passing in the media

Computers as Theatre (Laurel, B.)

Drama vs HCI (Laurel, B.)

Defining interactivity as: • Prototype - This method uses examples Prototype - This method uses examples

to define interactivity to define interactivity – e.g. phone:yes, newspaper:noe.g. phone:yes, newspaper:no– Problems? Is a phone conversation Problems? Is a phone conversation

interactive?interactive?• Criteria - This method uses a check list Criteria - This method uses a check list

of criteria that must be satisfiedof criteria that must be satisfied– e.g. ‘a system which exchanges information e.g. ‘a system which exchanges information

with the viewer and processes their inputwith the viewer and processes their input– Problems? Some interactive media excludedProblems? Some interactive media excluded

Continuum & Dimensions• An alternative approach has been

to define media in terms of the degree to which they are interactive

• In addition there are instances of definitions that combine this approach with using a number of different scales and mapping scales against each other

Degree of Interactivity

Low High

PressRadioTVFilm

TeletextComputer

communication via bulletin board,

electronic messaging,

teleconferencing, interactive cable tv

Rogers 1987

Interactivity as responsiveness

A A A

B B B

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

A A[M2] A[M4]

B[M1] B[M3] B[M5]

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

Two way communication

Reactive communication

Interactive communication

A A[M2/M1] A[M4/M3/M2/M1]

B[M1] B[M3/M2/M1] B[M5/M4/M3/M2/M1]

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

Rafaeli, S

Interactivity/Vividness

Steuer (1995)

Three Dimensional Continuum

Laurel, B

Frequency

Significance

Range

Low

High

High

High

The user has- little ability to act- few choices- little significance

The user has- a frequent ability to act- many choices- great significance

Four dimensions

• Degree of choices available• Degree of modificability• The quantity of choices and

modifications available• The degree of linearity or non

linearity

Goertz, L

More dimensions

• Selectivity (choice)• Effort needed• Reactivity• Ability to monitor and track users• Ability to add information• Interpersonal communication

possible

Heater, C

Communication Patterns

Information Produced by a central provider

Information produced by the consumer

Distribution controlled by

a central provider

TRANSMISSION REGISTRATION

Distribution controlled by the consumer

CONSULTATION CONVERSATION

Bordewijk & Kaam

Communication Patterns• Transmission - information produced

and distributed by a central provider• Conversation - information produced

and distributed by an information consumer

• Consultation - information produced centrally but distribution controlled by an information consumer

• Registration - information produced by an information consumer but distribution controlled centrally

Communication Patterns

• Transmission - e.g. TV news• Conversation - e.g. email• Consultation - e.g. Video on

demand, web surfing• Registration - e.g. Cookies,

webct

Cube of interactivity 1

Jensen, Jens

Conversational interactivity

Word processing and other PC tools

TV based interactive fiction

Bulletin Boards, Intelligent

networked games

No conversational interactivity

Surveillance and registrations

systems, Logging of computers systems,

Polling

Pay per view

Intelligent video games, cookies, Home-shopping, Voice response

No selectionTransmissional interactivity

Consultational interactivity

Registrational interactivity

Cube of interactivity 2

Jensen, Jens

Conversational interactivity

Telephone , email, chat, fax, video conferrencing

Multicasting, Mailing lists

Multiuser network games, virtual reality walks, Newsgroups

No conversational interactivity

Terrestrial TV, Movie, Novel,

Terrestrial radio

Multichannel TV, Teletext, Games on

demand

True video on demand, online information,

Cdroms, WWW

No selectionTransmissional interactivity

Consultational interactivity

No registrational interactivity

Manovich on interaction

• Interactive media tends to have been seen as related to physical aspects

• But previous media involved psychological interaction e.g.– Filling in– Interpretation– hypothesis

• And physical interaction has existed in previous media - e.g. the eye following a composition and body moving round a sculpture

Interaction as totalitarianism

• Interactivity can be seen as something that establishes links as a means of controlling the mind

• So interaction is not be unique to new media

References• http://www.rhizome.org/ - New

media art resource • http://www.manovich.net/text/

totalitarian.html - Manovich on interaction

• Mayer, P. A. (1999) Computer Media and Communication: a reader, Oxford University Press