How I first interpreted IXD when I just started this field was very simple. I see interaction design as software that connects technology(hardware) and the user.
When I tell my relatives what I’m studying in college, they look very confused when they hear the word “interaction design”. I still explain it like this: Well basically I design softwares. And they’ll finally understand.
Interaction design is so much more than just software. Interaction design, in my opinion, is the way that turns pure technology into human assistance. It makes humans cybers.
The demo by Douglas Engelbart and the team at SRI, was the revolutionary invention in human history that started focusing on human experience.
Before this, humans needed to learn a computer’s language, try to get used to this machine that’s full of numbers and functions. From this moment, the human’s position is put back to the center. Interaction design began to become a necessary part between computers and humans.
And today when we’re thinking about AI, I think that it’s similar to The demo by Douglas Engelbart and the team at SRI, It’s another form of human extension. All these tools strengthen the human mind’s creativity and communication instead of repetitive jobs that can be replaced by machines. Seeing inventions like these make me feel very excited to see the potential of human autonomy and creativity. And value design a lot. Because decision making, empathy and taste are the core qualities that machines can’t replace, and they’re also the core qualities of being a designer.