Wayfinding Reflections

In this reading Bill Vernplank is explaining Interaction Design and the steps that are used throughout the interacting design process. Vernplank explains that they are three questions that the interaction designer has to answer; how do you do? How do you feel, how do you know? The question “how do you do?’ refers designing the way people act. It’s giving the user complete control to manipulate it or discrete control and delegating control to the machine. The question of “how do you feel?” refers to you get feedback. Vernaplank is designing machines that give feedback to the users, which causes the user to reacting and show some of emotion.  The last question is “how do you know?.  This question refers to responsibility of the designer to help make people understand a machine by using maps and paths to navigate people.  He also talks about Interaction Design Paradigms. In refers to the basic question “what is a computer?” Then he branches these ideas that relate to a computer. First the computer being thought as a tool which allows us to manipulate it and control it. Then he talks about the media, which refers the user looking at it and browing in the medium. Vernaplank also mentions how the computer is evolving over time so its able to get better and adapt. He uses a vehicle as a metaphor the computer and realizing that they are rules of the road, which have limitations. After that he discusses computers as fashion. He says that aesthetics are dominating the world of fashion and people gravitate from one style of interaction to another style. Finally, in mentions the Interaction Design Process, which is a four-step process. The first step is the motivation behind the design that could be from an error of idea. The second step is the meaning the design comes from. A designer uses methaphors and scenarios to understand the framework of who is using, where they are located and what they are trying to achieve? The third steps are the modes.  Vernplank says modes depend on what the task is and how they can move from one mode or model to another.  Finally, the fourth step is mapping, He is talking about how a designer needs some display and controls. He explains that a display is a depiction of things that you are manipulating. Basically he is saying, “ You need to be able to map the controls to the display.“