Intuitive Interaction with Complex Artefacts: Empirically-Based Research

This book describes empirical research undertaken into intuitive interaction. This research is significant because it impacts on everyday use of everyday devices by everyday people, and has the potential to affect the ways in which products are designed and, more importantly, the ways in which they are understood by their users. Intuitive interaction involves the use of knowledge gained from other products and/or experiences. It is fast and generally non-conscious. Experimental studies revealed that prior exposure to products employing similar features helped participants to complete set tasks more quickly and intuitively, and that familiar features were intuitively used more often than unfamiliar ones. Three principles of intuitive interaction have been developed. A conceptual tool has also been devised to guide designers in their planning for intuitive interaction. Ongoing work involves further refining this tool and investigating intuitive interaction for older people.

Dr Thea Blackler, PhD: Studied at Brunel University, UK, De Montfort University, UK and Queensland University of Technology, Australia. She began investigating intuitive interaction in 2000, and continues to work in this area. She is now a Senior Lecturer at Queensland University of Technology, Australia.