If you thought the iPhone was cool have a look at some of the videos below to know where we’re heading with user interaction. Multi-touch might stay around for a bit but with mind-blowing technologies coming up we might be heading toward a whole new realm of human computer interaction.
Here are some examples:
1. Microsoft’s process desk (MS Surface product family)
2. Surface (also by MS, its already gone commercial with AT&T)
3. Gesture based interaction (by White Electronic Company?)
4. Touch light holographic gesture based interaction (also by MS)
A common theme underlying these systems is that applications no longer need to be bound to a window. These systems warrant more natural UI’s which blend into an average person’s environment (developers and tech savvy people not included).
An immediate observation that emerges from the first video on Microsoft’s process desk is that there is bound to be greater efficiency in accomplishing tasks because individuals no longer need to memorize process lists to accomplish tasks but visually comprehend the flow of information. Furthermore, since the gestures and interactivity tend to resemble conventional ways of accomplishing tasks or atleast simplify them, it can help in breaking down the inhibition towards technology use and thus improve an inidividual’s perceived capability towards using the system. Thus applications developed for these systems will have to go beyond ease of use and add substantive value to ensure usage. Moreover with little effort (mental) required to use the system there will be stronger intentions to use the system resulting in actual usage. Can’t forget social influence here afterall who doesn’t want to be on top of the tech-savvy chart, “he says its cool, yeah sure its cool, I’ve got to try it too”.
P.S. Observations and reflections based on research project completed as part of Master of Business Systems at Monash University, Australia on the topic: Factors affecting employee use of Business-to-employee portals
ThinkingCap - plugged in to the head 