The iPod and iPhone shifted the nature of our relationship to technology by introducing gestures that allowed us to interact through touch. This created a bridge between physical interaction and the digital world, making our experiences with technology more natural and intuitive.
Early on, designers used realistic icons to mimic real-world objects and help users learn how to navigate digital interfaces. This was an important step in training users and improving usability.
With the invention of the iPhone, touch became the main input form, moving us away from desktop-based interactions. Over the years, designing apps has become more common than ever. Designers now rely on established practices like onboarding flows, sign-up processes, payment systems, and customer support, especially in e-commerce.
Today, designers must adapt quickly to emerging technologies like AI and virtual reality headsets, continuing to evolve interaction design to meet new ways people engage with devices.