A model to conceptualize interactivity

Abstract

This paper presents a model to conceptualize interactivity to help people involved in interaction design. Previous studies on interactivity prototyping focus on tools to implement interactivity concepts. Little is found on models for conceptualizing interactivity. Our objective is to suggest an analytic model to explore the whole user experience by examining the degree of interactivity of a product. This is achieved by interpreting the notion of interactivity as conversation. A conceptualization model, named MCI (model for conceptualizing interactivity), was developed to measure the degree of interactivity. The model can be used to measure and compare the level of user engagement, which in many situations is used as an indication of positive user experience. We illustrate how the model can be used to analyze interactivity in three audio recorder design projects. The proposed model is expected to lead to an interactivity prototyping tool for various product categories including interactive media installations, tangible media, and other intelligent digital products in a ubiquitous computing environment. © Springer-Verlag 2009.