Chapter Three + Four

Interface and Interpretation

Any interface disciplines, constrains, and determines what can be done in any digital environment. Creating a continuum between electronic and print formats and their features provides another useful synthesis of historical materials and future project design.

History Of Interface: Early in the process of computational design. It was more of a text based interface that developed into a mouse and real time drawing program. It was a Powerful tool but human beings need to know how to use them without the tedious high learning curve.

Created visual conventions to quicken the use of the computer and became an interface of iconography. We now think of the screen from a 2D element to a 3D element. In addition, the interface is information and not a window to merely access to it. With the birth of web design came HCI and a new way of thinking. It is aimed to “design effective environments, ones in which satisfactions are balanced with frustrations, and efficiency can be maximized.” More importantly, it has developed into a means of “forming an intention” and “specifying an action” to “evaluating the outcome.” The Interface is much more than a dashboard to display information, but a stadium to call for action.

Interface Theory: Interface has changed over the years in practice and in definition. However, all cases revolve around the idea that it plans Expected actions and unpredicted discoveries of users. The crucial distinction she mentions that the user is not a consumer. Meaning, an interface is is what we read and how we read. The author mentions that all interfaces should be subject oriented, allowing the true information to be the main purpose. They eventually become the most authentic representations. How we present the information is how the user will grab it, either at a glance or through a detailed study. It is more than an “agent” “network” relationship between the two but a more humanistic understanding that allows communication. Interface is not a “thing” based on expectations of performance but a conversation.

Reading Interface: Linked to film and a book. Allowing room for an exterior frame and a link to a repository so understand where the user is in the interface. We can make connections of the different parts of the frame by their tangents. Usually a sense e of a map helps users understand where they are and how deep they are in the interface. Reading is augmented through visually expressing the differences of the surrogates within the interface. However, there is a need to clearly define the scale of information, type of information before the reader dives into the information to make the experiences that more efficient. Using interlocking frames for each term, commerce, entertainment, information, work, communication, depends on the fluidity of the interface. Frames allow a smooth speed of recognition and make the decision making process more innate. An interface is a zone od “affordances” that allow room for activities and choices occur based on probability. whose

Humanistic Interface: It is important to use aesthetic materials by studying the, using them, but not consuming them. Again she repeats that the user is not a consumer. A good interface design clearly states where the user is, how they arrived, how to move, and most importantly how to analyze. In addition, it supports the production of reading and not about consuming. It is all about the user.

Lessons from Bibliography: When we look at a book, we think it has no relation to the screen. In reality, the screen has mimicked the functions of the book in a new platform. They are presentations of representations organized through navigations based on orientation with references that live on through social networking. The main advantage of graphical organization in a book allows the user to go back and more importantly expand. For example, the table of contents is a summary and an introduction. We rely on special organization of information and the type of information on a page. The shift from manuscripts to a square allows us to think about the relationship of information. This allowed us to push further and think about Hypertext; the means of breaking text into a narrative of links grounded on a database. All based from a book, the base of the interface.

Towards Humanistic Design: To truly show networked relations, we cannot reply to those found in a book. There are some limitations that are evident when working for the digital world. An interface is a system that has a voice of information. It allows room for interpretations on the information as well. The aim is to focus on “the act of producing and less on [the] product.”

Designing for Graphic Interpretation:

Create interpretative activities based on textual and visual artifacts is the same as creating arguments in the digital space. It is aimed more at breaking away from the conventions of print becoming more flexible and adaptable to the user. These attributes promote a micro and macro reading to any type of information boundless by size, dimensions, and even depth. Presentation, representation, computational processing, navigation, orientation, reference, and social exchange. If we add a humanistic approach to the digital space, it will create a more cultural experience. However, it is essential to keep in mind not to allow room for non repeatable interpretations but an authentic presentation.