Intuitive Interaction Methods

Human conversation is interactive. As others speak you are thinking about what they are saying and identifying the best thread to continue the dialogue. Current LLMs wait for their interlocutor. Getting AI to think during interaction instead of only when prompted can generate more intuitive and engaging Humans + AI interaction and collaboration. Here are some of the key ideas in the paper "Interacting with Thoughtful AI" from a team at UCLA, including some interesting prototypes. 🧠 AI that continuously thinks enhances interaction. Unlike traditional AI, which waits for user input before responding, Thoughtful AI autonomously generates, refines, and shares its thought process during interactions. This enables real-time cognitive alignment, making AI feel more proactive and collaborative rather than just reactive. 🔄 Moving from turn-based to full-duplex AI. Traditional AI follows a rigid turn-taking model: users ask a question, AI responds, then it idles. Thoughtful AI introduces a full-duplex process where AI continuously thinks alongside the user, anticipating needs and evolving its responses dynamically. This shift allows AI to be more adaptive and context-aware. 🚀 AI can initiate actions, not just react. Instead of waiting for prompts, Thoughtful AI has an intrinsic drive to take initiative. It can anticipate user needs, generate ideas independently, and contribute proactively—similar to a human brainstorming partner. This makes AI more useful in tasks requiring ongoing creativity and planning. 🎨 A shared cognitive space between AI and users. Rather than isolated question-answer cycles, Thoughtful AI fosters a collaborative environment where AI and users iteratively build on each other’s ideas. This can manifest as interactive thought previews, real-time updates, or AI-generated annotations in digital workspaces. 💬 Example: Conversational AI with "inner thoughts." A prototype called Inner Thoughts lets AI internally generate and evaluate potential contributions before speaking. Instead of blindly responding, it decides when to engage based on conversational relevance, making AI interactions feel more natural and meaningful. 📝 Example: Interactive AI-generated thoughts. Another project, Interactive Thoughts, allows users to see and refine AI’s reasoning in real-time before a final response is given. This approach reduces miscommunication, enhances trust, and makes AI outputs more useful by aligning them with user intent earlier in the process. 🔮 A shift in human-AI collaboration. If AI continuously thinks and shares thoughts, it may reshape how humans approach problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making. Thoughtful AI could become a cognitive partner, rather than just an information provider, changing the way people work and interact with machines. More from the edge of Humans + AI collaboration and potential coming.

Intuitiveness is a "briefcase word" - it needs to be unpacked to be meaningful. And yet we often see "intuitive UI" used as a description of a feature, or worse, a product *requirement.* One issue is that "intuitive" really has two components, and you need both for a good product. One is the delta between the mental model of the product's designer and its user; it's "intuitive" if the workflow the user is accustomed to is mirrored precisely by the interface. The UI presents interactive elements in the hierarchy *and order* that the user looks for them, the affordances "speak the language" of that user. Designers trying to make "intuitive" interfaces often think they can achieve this by hiding complexity. But if their users are *looking* for that complexity, the design will be a disaster; the complex needs to be made *understandable* rather than merely simple. The other side of "intuitive" is the product's effectiveness at teaching its mental model to the user. This is necessary if - like any good innovation - you've come up with a new and better way of doing something. A really good primer on this is Arin Hanson's "Sequelitis" - exploring how the first few screens of Mega Man X introduce new mechanics that players of the other Mega Man games would be unfamiliar with. Another good example is Solitaire - training Windows users of bygone days to operate the newfangled thing called a "mouse" and practice interaction techniques like dragging and dropping. A product that only engaged with "intuitiveness" in the first way would be completely impenetrable to new users who weren't already experts in the old way of doing things. But a product that only engaged with it in the second way would be extremely frustrating for those expert users, who will initially make up your user base and don't want you to reinvent their wheel. Customizability is another element that often comes up - rather than make users re-learn, we let them adapt the system to their mental model - but it's usually used as a crutch by product teams who are not willing to learn that mental model in the first place. Customization created under this paradigm tends to be the opposite of intuitive, requiring lengthy 3rd party guides. This nuance is why designers must never rely on stakeholder approval as the "user acceptance test" of their work. What's "intuitive" for an exec is likely useless to a worker.

“We need to break up the content.” “I threw in a drag-and-drop to keep it engaging.” “It’s just something to click.” Sound familiar? Here’s the thing - interactivity shouldn’t be decoration. It should be purposeful. The biggest mistake I see in eLearning? 👉 Adding interactions that don’t do anything for the learner. True interactivity should make them think. It should deepen understanding, simulate a decision, or reinforce recall. 🎯 Here’s how to shift from fluff to function: ✅ Replace “click to reveal” with a mini-scenario ✅ Use branching to explore real consequences of choices ✅ Add drag-and-drop only when it mirrors a real process or sequence ✅ Always ask: “What does this interaction help them learn or practice?” 💡 Remember: interaction isn’t engagement if it’s empty. Let’s design learning that’s active and meaningful. What’s your favorite example of an interactive element that actually improved learning? #InstructionalDesign #LearningExperienceDesign #eLearning #IDOLAcademy #EngagementWithPurpose #LXD

Small is Big. Yes, I am talking about Micro-interactions. Those subtle, almost imperceptible animations and feedback that guide and delight users. Think of the gentle bounce when you pull to refresh, or the tiny heart animation when you like a post. These aren't just decorative; they’re powerful tools that improve the user experience. These provide immediate, engaging feedback, making users feel more connected to the interface. They confirm actions, such as a button changing color when pressed, signaling that the user's input was received. This reduces uncertainty and increases satisfaction. Consider the swipe-right animation on dating apps. It's not just functional; it adds a sense of achievement and excitement. Or the subtle vibration when you switch your phone to silent mode—this tactile feedback reassures you the action was successful without needing to look at the screen. To incorporate micro-interactions effectively, start with understanding your user's journey. Think like a user. Identify key actions where feedback or a touch of delight can make a difference. Keep micro-interactions simple and purposeful; too many can overwhelm and distract. I mean, they’re called “micro” for a reason, right? Test and iterate based on user feedback—what feels intuitive to one person might not to another. In essence, micro-interactions are the shoulder-pats we need from time to time. They transform mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences, making users return for more. So, DesignFriday focuses on these tiny details—for they're the key to creating a more human-centered digital world. #webdesign #userexperience #uxdesign #microinteractions #designinspiration #uidesign #webdevelopment #interactiondesign #digitaldesign #userinterface

This is the fourteenth in a series of 24 principles we use at Hatch Duo to craft visually compelling, timeless products. The best products don’t need instructions—they guide users through form. Whether it’s a spout, handle, or button, visual cues can signal function, priority, and behavior before a user makes contact. Visual clarity builds trust and reduces hesitation: - Strong form cues make a product feel approachable and intuitive - Clear affordances reduce dependency on labels or manuals - When function is expressed visually, the design feels confident and self-evident A well-shaped interaction invites use before words are ever read. Communicating Function in Practice - Beoplay H95 features a textured control ring that subtly invites rotation without relying on iconography. - Google Nest Thermostat uses a prominent circular dial that visually suggests grasping and turning to interact. - Simplehuman’s wall-mounted soap pump uses a front-facing lever shaped for the thumb, clearly guiding the squeeze action. Applying Visual Function with Purpose Design Elements that Invite Interaction: → Let curves, grips, and contours naturally guide where hands or eyes should go Use Hierarchy to Show What Matters First: → Emphasize key controls or access points through scale, shape, or placement Let Geometry Suggest Motion or Behavior: → Use directional cues—like pivots, levers, or arcs—to hint at how something moves Build Confidence Through Immediate Legibility: → When users instantly understand how to interact, the product feels effortless When a product communicates function through form, it feels natural, usable, and trustworthy. A strong design speaks clearly—without needing to say a word. This is just one of 24 principles we use at Hatch Duo to craft elegant aesthetics in physical product design. Stay tuned for the next principle in our Aesthetic Principles Series. #industrialdesign #productdesign #interactiondesign #visualaffordance #hatchduo

A key insight from our human-AI interface explorations: interactivity makes a huge difference. Even when image generation takes the same amount of time, witnessing the progress unfold before your eyes and being able to modify your input on the fly creates an entirely different experience compared to staring at a "loading" screen. This may sound obvious, but experiencing it firsthand was a significant revelation for me. In this demo, you can see how our interactive body painting prototype allows users to see real-time AI generation as they explore creative options. The immediacy of feedback transforms what could be a passive waiting experience into an engaging creative process. https://lnkd.in/gE3ZRuBK This builds on our work developing intuitive visual interfaces for AI—moving beyond text prompts to make generative AI more accessible to everyone, regardless of technical background. We're exploring how visual controls, interactive elements, and immediate feedback loops can dramatically improve how humans communicate creative intent to AI systems. What other interface innovations do you think would make AI more intuitive and accessible? #AIInterfaces #UXDesign #GenerativeAI #HumanAIInteraction

Where my head is this morning: Imagine a website in the future where the entire user experience revolves around an interactive, talking AI head. This AI is your sole interface—no menus, no buttons, no text, just a highly expressive digital face that engages with you in real-time. When you visit the site, the AI greets you warmly, asking what you need help with. You don't have to navigate through pages or search for information. Instead, you simply ask your questions or explain what you're looking for, and the AI responds directly, using natural language. It can answer queries, guide you through processes, or even entertain you with stories or suggestions based on your preferences. The AI's facial expressions and tone adjust to the context of the conversation, making it feel more human-like and engaging. If you're frustrated or confused, the AI shows empathy, calming you down with a reassuring smile or a gentle tone. If you're excited or happy, it mirrors that energy, making the interaction feel personal and responsive. Because the AI can access and process all the information on the site, it becomes your personalized guide. It remembers your preferences, adapts to your needs, and even learns from previous interactions to make future ones smoother and more intuitive. The website becomes less about browsing and more about having a conversation, where information flows naturally and instantly, tailored to you in a way that feels effortless and even enjoyable. This kind of UX could make websites feel more like interactive experiences or even dialogues, where users feel connected, understood, and catered to, without the need for traditional navigation or reading through content. It's like having a digital assistant, but one that is visually present and fully engaged with you, every step of the way.

The future of AI is not in the prompts but in the conversation. Prompt inversion is revolutionizing how humans interact with AI. Rather than relying on the user to input the perfect prompt, AI is now taking the lead by asking clarifying questions to guide the conversation. This shift is significant. It allows AI to better understand the user's intent and provide more accurate and relevant responses. Humans often struggle with articulating their thoughts and needs. Having AI prompt the user can help overcome these biases and lead to more effective communication. In classic, centralized search, Google and others make more money if they get you "close" to the answer - but not if they give you the answer. This is why going beyond "auto-complete" for these tools has never made (financial) sense. But with AI, soon, there will be no more staring at a blank box, hoping for the right query to lead you to an answer. The AI takes the lead, asking clarifying questions to guide the conversation. It's a dialogue, not a discrete game of search. We covered this in our last #Yext Insights program. In the Information Foraging theory developed by Peter Pirolli and Stuart Card, humans' search for information is likened to how animals forage for food. This theory could provide a compelling academic framework for understanding prompt inversion. It suggests that just as animals seek patches of rich food resources, humans are driven to find rich information patches. Prompt inversion could be seen as a method where AI helps humans navigate to these 'rich patches' more efficiently by actively guiding the search process. This shift promises to make AI interactions more intuitive and productive. It's a step towards truly conversational AI, adapting to individual needs and preferences. Try the ChatGPT premium version on your phone to preview this technique. Click the earphones icon and experience the difference. Prompt inversion is a glimpse into the future of human-AI interaction.