Interactive Design

Interactive design can be understood by breaking the term down into separate words.
According to The Budget Macquarie Dictionary, the word Interactive refers to the:

"Immediately responsive to commands, data, etc, as opposed systems arranged for batch processing." (213)

Keeping with The Budget Macquarie Dictionary, the definition of Design is recorded as;

"To intend for a definite purpose." (118)

When these two words are placed together their seperate definition are blended, forming the description of Interactive Design as;

"The development of a product that is intended to respond to an audience, in order to support them in everyday life."

In daily life we are continuously surrounded by interactive design. It is present by the way that we interact with our mobiles, computer, internet and video gaming, just to name a few. As Marion mentions on his website, these products and devices encompass interactive design because the user is working together with the device "a computer," to accomplish an aim. This is also known as Human - Computer Interaction.

Examples of interactive websites:

• Color Scheme Designer; As the user rolls over and clicks on a colours in the colour wheel, it reveals the contrasting colours that match well with the chosen colour, which can be used in a web design layout. It then shows the user an example of how the webpage would appear with such colours.
• Myspace.com - This website is a great interactive web design example, as it allows the users to change, manipulate and alter their own personal web page layout. The web page can also be changed daily with new blog and photo updates as well as updating the individuals mood.
• Maps.google.com.au - Google maps is a great website design, as it allows the user to zoom up on a state of their choice and see their chosen area from a satellite view, terrain view or map view.
• Secondlife.com - This website is an online, three dimensional, interactive website, that allows player to create themselves within a virtual world. In this interactive world users have control over their surroundings and themselves, while connecting with friends and socializing with new friends. The opening page for the site is interactive in its self as viewers can scroll along the screen by placing their mouse on the sides of the page where more information and menus are placed.

Work Cited:

Color Scheme Designer. Online. http://colorschemedesigner.com/. Accessed 15th March 2009

The Budget Macquarie Dictionary. 3rd ed. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd: 1999. Print

Google Maps. Online. http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&q=second_life&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl. Accessed 11th March 2009

Marion, Craig. What is Interactive Design and What Does It Mean To Information Designers. Online. "The Term Comes From Human - Computer Interaction." http://mysite.verizon.net/resnx4g7/PCD/WhatIsInteractionDesign.html. Accessed 26th February 2009.

Second Life. Online. "What is Second Life." http://secondlife.com/whatis. Accessed 11th March 2009

What is Interaction. Online. "Chapter Introduction." http://www.id-book.com/chapter1.html. Accessed 25th February 2009.