Introduction to Interaction Design: Lecture

Problem Space

F27ID Introduction to Interactive Design

2021-2022

What is the Problem Space?

* 'Defining the Problem' * Problem space helps us decide: - **What** we want to design - **What** are the key elements * Exploring the problem space is the the **first step** in designing an **interaction system**

## Problem Space Example

* Holographic navigation display which overlays GPS navigation instructions on the road ahead and gathers and shares driver statistics
  * An augmented reality navigation system  available in some cars today
  
**Can you tell which one is better and 'why'?**
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<aside class='notes'>
Let's consider an example. 
Take a look at the augmented reality displays and holographic navigation systems in the slide.
This technology is available in some cars today.
They are the result of decades of research into human factors of information displays, the driving experience itself, and the suitability of different technologies.
Having said that. 
Some people may not be comfortable using holographic navigation systems and chosen not to have one installed.[pause]
When you articulate the problem space, you would do this as a team to get the best results.
As in the example, you might find one interface better but your team mates might disagree with you.
</aside>

###  A framework for understanding the problem space 
  1. Are there **usability or user experience problems** with an existing  product or human experience? 
  2. **What** are they?
  3. Why are there **problems**?
  4. What is the **context** - social, technical, physical?
  5. How will your design ideas overcome the problems?
  6. What **kind of concepts** are involved in your design?
  7. How will your design ideas support, change, or extend current ways  of doing things?
 
<aside class='notes'>
 The following framework is one way to help us understand the problem space.
 Number one. Are there any usability or user experience problems with a existing products or human experiences. Remember, we are looking to a product and human experience when they interact with the product.
 Number two. What are these problems. At this stage, pinpoint the problems with interaction or user experience.
 Number three. Why are there problems. There are always reasons for problems. Try to understand those reasons.
 Number Four. What is the context of the problem. 
 The context could be social, technical or physical.
   A social example is when using a product in a particular social context. 
   A technical example could be a technically challenging game for children with disabilities. 
   A physical example could be using a pen-based interaction on a small screen.
 Number Five. How will your proposed design overcome the identified problems.
 Number Six. What kind of concepts are involved in your design.
 And Finally, how will your design ideas support, change, or extend currents of ways of doing things.
</aside>

## Usability or User Experience **Problems**  
  * What are the **Usability** **goals**?
    * Does the solution do what it was **intended** to do?
	* Is the solution effective, efficient, safe, easy to use, learn and remember?
  * What are the **User Experience goals**?
    * Satisfying, engaging, helpful, fulfilling, beautiful
 
<aside class='notes'>
To understand usability or user experience problems, it is essential to know the usability and user experience goals.
The usability goals are to determine if a product does well, what it is intended to do? 
If an interactive system is effective, efficient, safe, easy to use, and easy to learn and remember.
For example, the product needs to be easy to learn so that new users can use it immediately, and it should be memorable for more frequent users. 
Users won't want to wait around for the product to display fancy maps or provide unnecessary details,so it needs to be efficient and safe to use; that is, it needs to be able to deal easily with user errors.
The user experience goals include  satisfaction, engaging, helpful, fulfilling, and aesthetically beautiful.
Many of these are subjective qualities and are concerned with how a system feels to a user. 
They differ from the more objective usability goals in that they are concerned with how users experience an interactive product from their perspective, rather than assessing how
useful or productive a system is from its own perspective
</aside>

### Example 1: Exergaming to improve children's **health**
  * **Levels** of physical **inactivity** and obesity are very high in children, with fewer than 50 percent of primary school-aged boys and fewer than 28 percent of girls meeting the minimum levels of physical activity  required to maintain health.
  
  * "Exergaming" using active console **video games** that track player movement to control the game, has become popular, and may provide an alternative form of exercise to counteract sedentary  behaviours - Elsevier Heath Science, 2013 
 
<aside class='notes'>
 In this example, we look at exergaming to improve children's health.
 Do you know what exergaming is?  
 Exergaming is used to describe games that allow players to perform exercise, also known as , fitness games, exercise-gaming, or gamercising. 
 Examples of exergaming are the Wii , Nike Kinnect, Nintendo Fitness Boxing, X Box fitness.
 Levels of physical inactivity and obesity are very high in children. 
 Less than 50 percent of primary school aged boys and fewer than 28 percent of girls meet the minimum levels of physical activity required to maintain health.
 Exergaming using active console video games that track player movement to control the game, has become popular. It may provide an alternative form of exercise to counteract sedentary behavious. 
 As reported in research published in Elsevier Health Science in 2013.

</aside>

#### **Example 1**: Exergaming to improve children's **health**

The **"big"** problem we're trying to solve?
 * What **exercise** do primary school **children** do now?
 * Are there problems with children's' current experience of exercise? What are they?
 * What are children's current experiences of interactive games technology and exergaming?
 * What activities do (many) children enjoy doing? What do they dislike? Are they different from older people?
 * Why social, cultural and technological context
 * How will your design ideas overcome the problems?
 * How will your design ideas support, change, or extend current ways of  doing things?
 
 
<aside class='notes'>
The big problem we are trying to solve are:
What exercise do primary school children do now?
Are there problems with children's current experience of exercise? What are they?
What are children's current experiences of interactive games technology and exergaming?
What activities do many children enjoy doing? What do they dislike? Are they different from older people?
Remeber the previous slide. Understanding the problem context. For example, social, cultural and technological context
Now think about your design concept.
How will your design ideas overcome the problems?
How will your design ideas support, change, or extend current ways of  doing things?
</aside>

### **Example 2**: Problem space for an existing device 
  * Nature of product - **Gaming Peripheral**
  * Current user experience - Intuitive and satisfying
  * Concepts: Skating, Surfing, Walking and Balancing
  * Areas for improvement - **surface area limited**, cannot jump (Usability)
  * It is a pressure sensor used in most cases as a weighing device
  * There are some issues with the device but it is far outweighed by the limitations of the **software**!
 
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<aside class='notes'>
 Lets take a look at another example to understand the problem space.
 In this example, we are trying to understand the problem space for an existing gaming peripheral. 
 You can see this is clearly outlined in the bullet point list.
 What is the nature of the product. It is a gaming peripheral. I suppose we all know what a gaming perhipheral is. 
 The current device as shown in the image, uses the concepts for skating, surfing, walking and balancing.
 Is there a problem with the current device. 
 What are the areas for improvement? The first problem seems to be limited surface area. This causes usability issues as limited area is not suitable for jumping.
 The device is used as a pressure sensor used in most cases as a weighing device.
 There are some issues with the device but it is far outweighed by the limitations of the software.
</aside>

## Other **Examples** for you to Consider
  * Interface to allow for better **socializing** in the pub
  * Interface that tracks your energy usage at the **home** and provides alerts, suggestions
  * Interface that tracks the **medicine intake** of patients at home
  * Design that is easy to use online for home furniture **shopping**
  * An intelligent **photo holder** interface that connects parents and children who are distant
 
<aside class='notes'>
 Lets talk about some other examples.
 The first example, is an interface to allow for better socializing in the pub. It could be a software application or a web app.
 Another example is an interface that tracks your energy usage in the home and provides alerts, suggestions. This is commonly used on mobile apps.
 Then there is an interface for tracking the medicine intake of patients at home.
 How would you design an easy to use online tool for home furniture shopping. For instance, you could take a look at the IKKEA online furniture selection tool and see how they do it.
 A final example, would be an intelligent photo holder interface that connects parents and children who are distant.
</aside>

## Challenge any claims and assumptions 
  * **Assumption**: Taking something for granted when we should test it
    - "People want to watch TV in the car"
  * **Claim**: Stating that something is true when it is still open to question
    - "Using speech to control GPS while driving is safe"

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<aside class='notes'>
  Sometimes assumptions can be wrong and misleading.
  You should challenge any claims or assumptions.
  Assumptions are when you assuming or taking something for granted without any evidence or test.
  For example, when you assume people want to watch TV in the car.
  
  A claim is when you state something is true when it is still open to question.
  For example, using speech to control the GPS while driving is safe.
  Now looking at the two examples, we can conclude that assumptions and claims could lead to incorrect judgement of the situation.
  Writing down your assumptions and claims and then trying to defend and support them can highlight those that are vague or wanting. 
  In so doing, poorly constructed design ideas can be reformulated. 
</aside>

#### Future: 3D TV? 
## Assumptions - reasonable or not?
  * People would **not mind** wearing the **glasses**  that are needed to see in 3D in their living rooms?
  * People would **not mind** **paying** a **lot** more for  a new 3D-enabled TV screen?
  * People would really enjoy the **enhanced**  clarity and colour **detail** provided by 3D?
  * People will be happy carrying around their own special glasses

<aside class='notes'>
 Lets review the assumptions about 3D television and see if they are reasonable or not.
 People would not mind wearing the glasses that are needed to see in 3D in their living rooms.
 People would not mind paying a lot more for a new 3D-enabled TV screen.
 People would really enjoy the enhanced clarity and colour detail provided by 3D.
 People will be happy carrying around their own special glasses.
 Would you agree with these assumptions?
</aside>

## Components of the **Conceptual Model**
  * Often based on **metaphors** (or **analogies**)
  * a word or phrase applied to an object or action   to which it is not literally applicable
  * a comparison between two things, often based   on their structure 
  * Using metaphors:
     - take a real-world or familiar thing and use it as a basic concept for the new design
  * Helps users and designers understand what a device or system is for and how to use it

<aside class='notes'>
The conceptual model uses metaphors and analogies for example Desktop, spreadsheet, recycle bin, web, search engine. These terms are metaphorically used on your windows operating system.
What are Metphors. Metaphors and analogies that convey to people how to understand what a product is used for and how to use it for an activity. Take a real-world or familiar thing and use it as a basic concept for the new design.
For example browsing and bookmarking. These are concepts. You don't really browse them, do you? Similarly, when you bookmark a page, it is not bookmarked in reality, but we are using a bookmark analogy.
Metaphors help users and designers to understanding what a device or system is for and how to use it.
</aside>

## **Interface** metaphors   
  * Metaphors make abstract concepts concrete and easier to   **understand**
  * Exploit our knowledge of everyday objects so we can    understand and use something unfamiliar
  * Enables users to
    * **Conceptualise** what we are **doing**, e.g. surfing the web
    * **Conceptualise** what an interface is **about** e.g. the desktop    metaphor
    * Visualise hidden operations, e.g. putting items into a shopping    trolley to buy later
  * Make it **easier** for users to **learn** a new system
  * Help users understand the conceptual model
  * Can be very innovative and enable computer applications to    be made more accessible to a greater diversity of users

<aside class='notes'>
  Let's talk about Interface metaphors. 
  These make abstract concepts concrete and easier to understand.
  Exploit our knowledge of everyday objects so we can understand and use something unfamiliar.
  These Enable users to Conceptualise what we are doing, e.g. surfing the web
  Conceptualise what an interface is about e.g. the desktop metaphor.
  Visualise a hidden operation, e.g. putting items into a shopping trolley to buy later
  Make it easier for users to learn a new system.
  These Help users understand the conceptual model.
  These Can be very innovative and enable computer applications to be made more accessible to a greater diversity of users.
 For example Search engine.
Screen time became a metaphor for allowed time for children or spent time in general.
Metaphor used to explain something hard to grasp with a familiar concept. 
</aside>

## **Problems** with Interface Metaphors   
  * May break **conventional** and cultural rules
    -  e.g. recycle bin placed on desktop
  * Can **constrain designers** in the way they conceptualise a    problem space
  * Forces users to **only understand** the system in terms of    the **metaphor**
  * Designers can use **bad existing designs** and transfer the    bad parts over
  * **Limits** designers' imagination in coming up with new    conceptual models
  * Might just choose the **wrong metaphor**
 
<aside class='notes'>
  Lets discuss roblems with Interface Metaphors.  
  These may break conventional and cultural rules. for example recycle bin placed on desktop. This does not happen in real world.
  These Can constrain designers in the way they conceptualise a problem space.
  Interface metaphors forces users to only understand the system in terms of the metaphor.
  The Designers can use bad existing designs and transfer the  bad parts over.
  It Limits designers imagination in coming up with new conceptual models.
  Some might just choose the wrong metaphor. </aside>

## Interaction types  
  * **Instructing** - issuing commands and choosing    options
  * **Conversing** - interacting with a system as if    having a conversation
  * **Manipulating** - interacting with objects in a    virtual or physical space by manipulating them 
  * **Exploring** - moving through a virtual    environment or a physical space
  * **Responding** - system taking initiative to alert,    describe, show something to users

<aside class='notes'>
   Interaction types. This is important to interaction types.
 Instructing is an interaction type when users issue commands or choose options. For example, typing, menu, speaking command, gesturing, function keys, buttons.
Conversing is an intereaction  when user is having a coversation with the system. For example, user can ask questions as well. Simple one word answers to sentences. Google home, alexa. It can be cumbersome when on the phone.
Manipulating is interaction type in which user interact with objects in a virtual or physical space by manipulating them. For example opening, holding, closing, placing. 
Hone your knowledge about physical objects. help beginners, experience users work rapidly on a wide range of tasks, infrequent users remember, prevent need for error messages, showing how their actions are furthering their goal, reduce anxiety, gain confidence and feel in control.
Exploring refers to moving through virtual or physical space. For example 3D environments, smart rooms.
Responding refers to system taking initiative to alert, describe and show something to users.
Good interaction provides good user experience. Systems are Effective to use,Efficient and Safe to use. Products have good utility, Easy to learn and Easy to remember how to use.
</aside>

# **Which** interaction type is **best**?   
  * **Depends** on the problem space - e.g. the task and the    user
  * Direct manipulation is good for 'doing' types of tasks, e.g.    designing, drawing, flying, driving, sizing windows
  * Issuing instructions is **good** for **repetitive** tasks, e.g. spell-checking, file management 
  * Having a conversation is good for children, computer-   phobic, users with disabilities and specialised tasks (e.g.    phone helplines)
  * **Exploration** is good for learning and engagement
  * These types can be mixed - but can take **longer** to learn   
 
<aside class='notes'>
  Which interaction type is best?   
  It Depends on the problem space. For example the task and the user.
  Direct manipulation is good for doing types of tasks, For example   designing, drawing, flying, driving, sizing windows.
  Similarly, Issuing instructions is good for repetitive tasks, for example spell checking, file management.
  Having a conversation is good for children, computer phobic, users with disabilities and specialised tasks. For example  phone helplines.
  Exploration is good for learning and engagement.
  These types can be mixed, but can take longer to learn.
</aside>

# Interface **types**  
  * Now we can get down to the interface! At least in a general    way
  * Interface types include:
    * **Text, menus, speech, joysticks, buttons, gestures**
  * Different types of interface can support the same type of    interaction
    * Speech, buttons, menus and typed commands (and    others) could all support instruction
  * The **interface type** should support the type of **interaction**    you are aiming for
    * Example, a joystick or mouse pointer would support direct    manipulation, but speech input would not 
 
<aside class='notes'>
 Now we can get down to the interface! At least in a general way [pause].
Interface types include:
Text, menus, speech, joysticks, buttons, gestures etc.
Remember, different types of interface can support the same type of interaction.
For example Speech, buttons, menus and typed commands could all support instruction.
The interface type should support the type of interaction you are aiming for.
For example, A joystick or a mouse pointer would support direct manipulation, but speech input would not.
</aside>

## Other **factors** to consider!  
  * **Paradigms** - Questions to be asked and how they should be framed,    the phenomena to be observed.
  * **Vision** - Utopian (AI will make our lives easier), dystopian (AI will take    away our jobs)
  * **Theories** - means for analyzing and predicting users performances
  * **Models** - Based on theories to explain the way user interacts with    interactive technologies
  * **Framework** - to help designers consider and scope the user    experience for which they are designing   
 
<aside class='notes'>
  Other factors to consider for designing and evaluating interactive systems.  
  Paradigms. Questions to be asked and how they should be framed, the phenomena to be observed.
  Vision. Utopian for example AI will make our lives easier. Dystopian for example AI will take away our jobs.
  Theories. These are Used for analyzing and predicting users performances.
  Models. These are Based on theories to explain the way user interacts with interactive technologies.
  Framework. These are used to help designers consider and scope the user experience for which they are designing.   
</aside>