CHAPTER 2: Part 2 IT4106 - User Experience Design BIT UCSC UoM Computer ICT Notes Online Classes

2.1.2 Interaction Paradigms

🎯 Learning Objectives

After studying this section, students should be able to:

• Define an interaction paradigm.
• Explain the evolution of interaction paradigms.
• Identify different interaction paradigms.
• Compare traditional and modern interaction paradigms.
• Explain how interaction paradigms influence User Experience (UX).

📖 Introduction & What is a Paradigm?

Technology has changed dramatically over the past few decades. The way people interacted with computers in the 1960s is very different from how we interact with today's smartphones, smartwatches, and AI assistants. These changes are known as Interaction Paradigms.

What is a Paradigm?

Definition: A paradigm is a model, pattern, or way of thinking that guides how something is designed or performed. In computer science, it represents a standard approach used to solve problems or design systems.

Simple Definition: A paradigm is a general way of doing something.

Example (Transportation): People first travelled by walking → horse carts → bicycles → cars → electric vehicles. Each represents a different transportation paradigm. Similarly, computers evolved from command-line systems to graphical interfaces, touch screens, and voice-controlled systems.

💡 What is an Interaction Paradigm?

Definition

An Interaction Paradigm is the overall approach or style used for communication between users and computer systems. It defines how users perform tasks and how the system responds.

Simple Definition: The method through which people communicate with computers.

Why are Interaction Paradigms Important?

Interaction paradigms influence user behaviour, satisfaction, productivity, learnability, and accessibility. A good interaction paradigm makes software intuitive and reduces the learning curve.

Example (Windows GUI): Click icons → Open folders → Drag files → Delete documents. This follows the Graphical User Interface (GUI) paradigm.

🖥️ Evolution: CLI & GUI

1. Command-Line Interface (CLI)

Users type text commands to communicate with the computer (e.g., Windows Command Prompt, Linux Terminal, MS-DOS).

mkdir Projects (Creates a new folder) cd Projects (Moves into the directory) dir (Displays all files)

• Advantages: Very fast for experts, low resource usage, powerful for automation.
• Disadvantages: Must memorize commands, typing errors cause failures, not suitable for beginners.

2. Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Users interact using graphical elements such as icons, windows, buttons, and menus (e.g., Windows 11, macOS, Android).

Click Folder → Folder Opens → Select File → Drag File → Drop into Another Folder

• Advantages: Easy to learn, visual, no command memorization, suitable for beginners.
• Disadvantages: Consumes more memory, may become cluttered if poorly designed.

🌐 Evolution: Web, Mobile & Touch

3. Web-Based Interaction

Users communicate with applications through web browsers (e.g., Google, Facebook, YouTube, Amazon).

• Pros: Accessible anywhere, no installation, easy updates, cross-platform.
• Cons: Internet required, performance depends on network speed.

4. Mobile Interaction

Users interact through touch, swipe, pinch, voice, and biometrics (e.g., WhatsApp, TikTok, Banking Apps).

• Pros: Portable, natural, location-aware, camera integration.
• Cons: Small screen, limited keyboard, battery dependency.

5. Touch-Based Interaction

Users directly manipulate objects using gestures like tap, swipe, pinch, spread, and rotate (e.g., Google Maps zooming).

🚀 Evolution: Voice, Gesture, VR, AR & AI

6. Voice User Interface (VUI)

Users communicate using spoken language (e.g., Siri, Alexa, ChatGPT Voice). Pros: Hands-free, accessible. Cons: Recognition errors, privacy concerns.

7. Gesture-Based Interaction

Users control systems through body movements (e.g., Microsoft Kinect, VR Controllers).

8. Virtual Reality (VR) & 9. Augmented Reality (AR)

VR: Creates a completely digital environment (e.g., Meta Quest). AR: Adds digital info to the real world (e.g., Pokémon GO, IKEA Place).

10. AI-Based Interaction

Users communicate naturally, and systems understand intentions (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot). Users simply say "Summarize this document," and the AI generates it.

📊 Comparison & Case Study: Banking

Comparison of Interaction Paradigms

Paradigm	Input Method	Examples	Suitable For
Command Line	Keyboard Commands	Linux Terminal	Experts
GUI	Mouse + Keyboard	Windows	General Users
Web	Browser	Google, Facebook	Internet Apps
Mobile/Touch	Touch	Android, iPhone	Smartphones
Voice	Speech	Siri, Alexa	Hands-Free
VR/AR	Headset/Camera	Meta Quest, Pokémon GO	Simulation/Real-World
AI-Based	Natural Language	ChatGPT	Intelligent Assistance

Case Study: Evolution of Banking

1980: Visit Branch → Paper Forms → Manual Processing ↓ 2000: ATM Machines → Card + PIN → Cash Withdrawal ↓ 2010: Internet Banking → Web Browser → Transfer Money Online ↓ 2025: Mobile + AI → Face Recognition → Voice Commands → Instant Payments

🔑 Key Points to Remember

• An interaction paradigm is the overall method through which users interact with a computer system.
• Paradigms evolved from CLI → GUI → Web → Mobile → Touch → Voice → Gesture → VR → AR → AI.
• Each paradigm has its own strengths, limitations, and suitable application areas.
• UX designers must select the paradigm that best matches users' goals, skills, and context of use.

2.1.3 Direct & Indirect Manipulation

📝 Note for Lecturer: Although "Direct vs. Indirect Manipulation" is not explicitly listed in the syllabus, it is a core concept under Conceptualizing Interaction (from the recommended textbook). Understanding this helps students grasp why some interfaces feel intuitive and others do not.

🎯 Learning Objectives

• Define Direct and Indirect Manipulation.
• Explain the characteristics of Direct Manipulation.
• Compare Direct and Indirect Manipulation.
• Identify real-world applications of both interaction styles.
• Apply Direct Manipulation principles in interface design.

📖 Introduction & What is Direct Manipulation?

One of the main goals of UX Design is to make systems feel natural. This idea was introduced by Ben Shneiderman in the early 1980s.

What is Direct Manipulation?

Definition: An interaction style where users directly interact with visible objects on the screen instead of entering commands. Objects respond immediately with continuous visual feedback.

Simple Definition: Users directly touch, move, or control objects on the screen.

Direct vs Indirect Example (Moving a File)

DIRECT: Click file → Drag it → Drop into folder (File moves immediately) INDIRECT: Type "Move File" → Type destination → Press Enter (User gives instructions)

✨ Characteristics & Real-Life Examples

3 Characteristics of Direct Manipulation (Shneiderman)

1. Continuous Representation of Objects: Objects remain visible throughout the interaction (e.g., you can always see files and folders on the Desktop).
2. Physical Actions Instead of Complex Commands: Users interact using simple actions like click, drag, drop, touch, swipe, pinch.
3. Immediate Feedback: Every action produces an immediate response (e.g., dragging a folder moves it instantly).

Real-Life Examples

• Smartphones: Touch, swipe, pinch, rotate. Everything responds instantly.
• Google Maps: Pinch to zoom, drag to move, rotate to change direction.
• Microsoft Paint / Canva: Draw, erase, resize, move shapes in real-time.
• Mobile Photo Gallery: Swipe for next photo, pinch to zoom.

⚖️ Advantages & Disadvantages of Direct Manipulation

Advantages

• Easy to Learn: Beginners (even children) quickly understand how to use it.
• Faster Interaction: Dragging files is faster than typing file paths.
• Immediate Feedback: Users know instantly if an action succeeded.
• Fewer Errors: Objects remain visible, reducing mistakes.
• More Enjoyable: Smooth animations improve satisfaction.

Disadvantages

• Requires Graphical Interfaces: Cannot be used in simple text-based systems.
• High Hardware Requirements: Needs graphics processing and touch-sensitive screens.
• Screen Size Limitations: Small mobile screens can become crowded.
• Accessibility Issues: Visually impaired users may need screen readers instead.

⌨️ What is Indirect Manipulation?

Definition

Indirect Manipulation is an interaction style where users communicate using commands, menus, forms, or keyboard input instead of directly controlling objects.

Simple Definition: Telling the computer what to do instead of directly moving objects.

Examples

Command Prompt, Linux Terminal, PowerShell, SQL Commands, Programming Languages.

Instead of dragging a file, the user types: move Report.docx D:\Documents (The computer executes the command) In Linux: cp file.txt backup/

Pros & Cons

• Advantages: Very powerful, suitable for experts, supports automation, works without GUI, consumes fewer resources.
• Disadvantages: Requires memorizing commands, steeper learning curve, higher chance of typing errors, less intuitive.

🔄 Direct vs Indirect Manipulation

Comparison Table

Feature	Direct Manipulation	Indirect Manipulation
Interaction	Directly controls objects	Uses commands or menus
Learning	Easy	More difficult
Feedback	Immediate	Often delayed
User Type	Beginners & general users	Advanced & technical users
Examples	Smartphones, Canva, Maps	Linux Terminal, CMD
Error Rate	Lower	Higher (if commands are wrong)

Real-World Comparison: Deleting a File

Direct Manipulation

Open folder → Select file → Press Delete → Confirmation dialog → File moved to Recycle Bin

Indirect Manipulation

Open Terminal → Navigate to folder → Type: rm report.pdf → Press Enter → File deleted

Which is Better? There is no universally better approach. It depends on user experience level, task complexity, and environment. A graphic designer benefits from Direct Manipulation (Photoshop), while a system administrator benefits from Indirect Manipulation (Linux terminal for automation).

🛠️ Design Guidelines, Activity & Summary

Design Guidelines for Direct Manipulation

• Keep important objects visible.
• Provide immediate feedback for every action.
• Allow users to undo mistakes.
• Use familiar gestures (drag, drop, swipe, pinch).
• Maintain consistency and minimize unnecessary typing.
• Use animations carefully to reinforce actions, not distract.

📝 Classroom Activity: Identify whether the following are Direct or Indirect Manipulation.

Activity	Answer
Dragging a file into a folder	Direct
Typing mkdir Project in Linux	Indirect
Pinching to zoom on Google Maps	Direct
Running a SQL query in a database	Indirect
Rotating an image using touch gestures	Direct

Summary

Direct Manipulation allows users to interact directly with visible objects using actions like clicking and dragging. It provides immediate feedback and is easy to learn.

Indirect Manipulation requires users to issue commands through keyboards or menus. It is powerful for advanced users but has a steeper learning curve.

Good UX designers choose the interaction style based on users' needs, task complexity, and the context in which the system will be used.

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