Interaction techniques in HCI and interaction design consolidate steps into a single activity, improving user-device experience. Techniques involve hardware and software inputs and outputs, with categories including command languages, menus, direct manipulation, form filling, and pointing techniques. Three-dimensional techniques allow natural interaction in virtual environments. The technique is no longer limited to productivity applications but is used in military systems, e-commerce, games, and more.
The interaction technique is used in human-machine interaction (HCI) and interaction design to develop a process for consolidating a series of steps into a single activity, thereby enhancing the user-device experience. There are several two-dimensional (2D) interaction techniques, and three-dimensional (3D) interaction techniques have also been developed. All techniques involve a combination of multiple inputs and outputs, both from hardware and software, resulting in a user-friendly interaction with the computer.
Hardware input devices can include items such as keyboards, pointing devices, cameras, joysticks, or touch screens. Some examples of software include touch or pressure sensing, speech recognition, and motion sensing. The output side can have as many items as the input side and will often include duplicates. Monitors, speakers, and talking dolls are just a few examples of output-related devices.
HCI designers work to build a simple protocol that includes all relevant elements. The interaction technique used to create this protocol varies by application and by designer. Several primary categories of interaction techniques have emerged, including the use of command languages and function keys.
Beyond these are the more complicated techniques that require a larger group of subtasks to be performed. Menus are perhaps the most common interaction technique. Almost every website has at least one example of this in a nested or drop down menu bar. One of the more clearly visible techniques is direct manipulation, such as a scrollbar.
Form filling, where a user has options to choose before completing the task, and pointing techniques using special cursors are two others. Many mobile devices contain motion sensing technology, which is an interaction technique used in games and applications. Console gaming systems also use a motion sensing technique.
Three-dimensional interaction techniques allow the user to have a natural interaction in a virtual environment. The development of 3D technology has greatly expanded and great strides have been made to simplify and smooth the experience with 3D and virtual reality. This is a far cry from the days when HCI and the interaction technique was primarily focused on productivity applications such as word processors and spreadsheets.
Since the development of the personal computer, the interaction technique has expanded from simply focusing on user productivity. Military systems, e-commerce, games and more use the interaction technique. It is no longer just for the single user, but for all people. It is not limited to simple graphical interfaces but to many devices and technologies.
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