It would seem we are limiting the term “interaction” to that with an inanimate object and not a person, so my post will be as such.
Interaction can be divided down into three subcategories; low, medium and high level interaction. The higher the level, the more participation and effort is needed for the interaction to unfold. Low level interactions are simple, straight forward interactions, such as seeing a catchy phase on a bus shelter and understanding it immediately. A medium level interaction involve the user to choose from limited outcomes, for example those Cadbury chocolate ads on the subway, telling you to solve the puzzle and do as it asks. A high level interaction would be allowing the user to take the helm and determine the outcome, such as a computer game or flight simulator. All three levels of interaction are around us in everything from using toasters to buying posters.It is very important to understand which level of interaction to use where, so that people do not have to use excessive brain power to understand tasks and directions.
I also think that interaction, in terms of art and installment pieces, is the most important thing that has ever happened to the art world. Prior to these modern art installments and interactive pieces, the viewers of these pieces were completely detached from the piece, they could only conger up and create emotions they assumed were piece asked of them. This created an invisible barrier with no visible solution. As the 1920’s rolled through, artists such as Marcel Duchamp became to tinker with the idea of interactive art, such as his “rotary glass plates” which involved the viewer to directly have a role in the animation of the artwork. The gap had now been breached; interactive art allowed the viewer to become the participator and in turn, the hand of the creator in theory. Interactive pieces are even enjoyable, since everyone wants to touch the art they see, especially when its a 3-dimensional piece; its like the big red button everyone wants to push, its just so luring!
Interaction is very important to human nature, and so it is very important in the way we design, produce and lay things out. To understand how we interact with ideas, people or inanamite objects means we can effectively reach the masses and get messages and such across where and when we need to, whether is be in the form of art, advertisement or any other form of communication.
Sources:
http://www.kenfeingold.com/dinkla_history.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_art#History
http://www.marcelduchamp.net/Rotary_Glass_Plates.php
https://mpm17fall2009friday.wordpress.com/ (Interaction post)
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