Rise of Human-Like Interactions

A talk by Jiři Sekera and Petr Kosnar

Interacting with computers as how we understand it nowadays is based on a user manipulating with the elements of a computer interface, and the system responding in a pre-defined way. This scenario often fails when user does not know what to ask for, how to ask for it, or the computer provides general response not fitting this particular user. Especially the lack of context from the computer’s side often leads to misunderstanding, or overloading user with unnecessary requests for additional information.

The goal of this talk is to present the main differences of human-computer interaction and human-human interaction. We compare the languages of interaction between humans and between humans and technologies, and point out that interactions with technologies (not only websites) could be designed and implemented more human-like.

Designers must begin with understanding techniques and language of interpersonal communication, and mimic them in human-machine communication. Specifically, understanding the context, making assumptions, and learning from the previous experience can shift the command-based interactions closer to a meaningful two-way communication. We already have myriad of these information available – for instance behaviour patterns, information we can obtain through the sensors in cell phones and various wearable devices. If we start using them, we can create systems that are able to consider the context and make relevant assumptions. Then, many of the old-fashioned interactions with the user can be completely left out.

This talk is going to demonstrate that information needed for understanding context are actually easily available nowadays. Then, the designers should take this opportunity, and use these information and design systems that communicate with users in more human-like way, not as a dumb question-answer machine. When we minimize user interventions and maximize utilization of context-aware technologies, the interactions will be more pleasant for the users, and their goals will be achieved faster.