Interactive technology is often confused with various other terms in the tech industry. It stands for the kind of technology that facilitates a two-way interaction between a person and a device. It happens when a user communicates, in various forms, a particular request to the technology. The person can be asking for any kind of data of action to be carried out. The result, the device properly carries out the request by providing the data or carrying out the operation.
Types
There are three major types of new devices widely used in the making of interactive tech that UX designers are concerned with. Here are a few details on each of the devices.
Touch Screen Devices
Touch screens are among the most common modern devices that are being exploited for interactive technology.
They have been gradually developing over the years, and are currently at a brilliant stage. The users are getting an incredible experience from these gadgets, as they are immensely manageable and comfortable to use.
However, they do differ from brand to brand because of their software.
Voice Recognition Devices
These are systems that take spoken sentences and convert them to text use voice recognition software. This technology is being used in a vast range of devices to enhance user experience and provide a higher level of comfort.
This incredible HCI technology ensures hands-free communication. Allowing the users to request data or an action using just with the sound of their voice. However, the distance at which the device can understand the command might differ from the software being used.
Gesture Recognition Devices
Gesture recognition is a sophisticated technology that takes the human movement and translates it for the computer to understand the message. The process requires the use of mathematical procedures to perceive the gestures.
This technology is overshadowing older devices like keyboards and even has the potential to overpower touch screens, as it is completely hands-free.
Role of a UX Designer in the Making of Interactive Technology
A user experience (UX) designer needs to follow the HCI design principles in order to deliver on interactive technology products accurately. A UX designer needs to consider everything about the product in question. Whereas UX/UI experts at Adobe say “HCI practitioners now need to think about every digital product in a holistic way and place even more focus on the needs and wants of end-users.
The basics are why, what, and how.
Why would question the reason a user might select this particular product. It could be similar to the individual needs of the user. Alternatively, it could target the user’s values or views related to the use of the product.
What would question the features of the product? A UX designer needs to give an incredible thought to the functionality of the tech they are designing.
How would question the design of the functions that provide users the most accessible and straightforward method of navigation?
There are seven essential factors that affect the user experience, which are:
- Useful
- Accessible
- Desirable
- Usable
- Valuable
- Credible
- Findable
A UX designer needs to keep all these things in mind to effectively create a product that can meet the demands of a client.
