Note to Self: Stop Calling Interfaces “Natural”

Lone Koefoed Hansen; Peter Dalsgaard

Note to Self: Stop Calling Interfaces “Natural”

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The term “natural” is employed to describe a wide range of novel interactive products and systems, ranging from gesture-based interaction to brain-computer interfaces and in marketing as well as in research. However, this terminology is problematic. It establishes an untenable dichotomy between forms of interaction that are natural and those that are not; it draws upon the positive connotations of the term and conflates the language of research with marketing lingo, often without a clear explanation of why novel interfaces can be considered natural; and it obscures the examination of the details of interaction that ought to be the concern of HCI researchers. We are primarily concerned with identifying the problem, but also propose two steps to remedy it: recognising that the terminology we employ in research has consequences, and unfolding and articulating in more detail the qualities of interfaces that we have hitherto labelled “natural”.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Critical alternatives : Proceedings of The Fifth Decennial Aarhus Conference 17- 21 August 2015, Aarhus, Denmark
Editors	Shaowen Bardzell, Susanne Bødker, Ole Sejer Iversen, Clemens N. Klokmose, Henrik Korsgaard
Number of pages	4
Place of publication	Aarhus
Publisher	Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University
Publication date	Aug 2015
Pages	65-68
Publication status	Published - Aug 2015
Event	The fifth decennial Aarhus conference: Critical alternatives 2015 - Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Duration: 17 Aug 2015 → 21 Aug 2015

Conference

Conference	The fifth decennial Aarhus conference
Location	Aarhus University
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Aarhus
Period	17/08/2015 → 21/08/2015

Access to Document

http://cs.au.dk/~hko/Aarhus2015ProceedingsVolumeI.pdf

Cite this

Hansen, L. K., & Dalsgaard, P. (2015). Note to Self: Stop Calling Interfaces “Natural”. In S. Bardzell, S. Bødker, O. Sejer Iversen, C. N. Klokmose, & H. Korsgaard (Eds.), Critical alternatives: Proceedings of The Fifth Decennial Aarhus Conference 17- 21 August 2015, Aarhus, Denmark (pp. 65-68). Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University. http://cs.au.dk/~hko/Aarhus2015ProceedingsVolumeI.pdf

Hansen, Lone Koefoed ; Dalsgaard, Peter. / Note to Self : Stop Calling Interfaces “Natural”. Critical alternatives: Proceedings of The Fifth Decennial Aarhus Conference 17- 21 August 2015, Aarhus, Denmark. editor / Shaowen Bardzell ; Susanne Bødker ; Ole Sejer Iversen ; Clemens N. Klokmose ; Henrik Korsgaard. Aarhus : Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University, 2015. pp. 65-68

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title = "Note to Self: Stop Calling Interfaces “Natural”",

abstract = "The term “natural” is employed to describe a wide range of novel interactive products and systems, ranging from gesture-based interaction to brain-computer interfaces and in marketing as well as in research. However, this terminology is problematic. It establishes an untenable dichotomy between forms of interaction that are natural and those that are not; it draws upon the positive connotations of the term and conflates the language of research with marketing lingo, often without a clear explanation of why novel interfaces can be considered natural; and it obscures the examination of the details of interaction that ought to be the concern of HCI researchers. We are primarily concerned with identifying the problem, but also propose two steps to remedy it: recognising that the terminology we employ in research has consequences, and unfolding and articulating in more detail the qualities of interfaces that we have hitherto labelled “natural”. ",

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booktitle = "Critical alternatives",

publisher = "Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University",

note = "The fifth decennial Aarhus conference ; Conference date: 17-08-2015 Through 21-08-2015",

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Hansen, LK & Dalsgaard, P 2015, Note to Self: Stop Calling Interfaces “Natural”. in S Bardzell, S Bødker, O Sejer Iversen, CN Klokmose & H Korsgaard (eds), Critical alternatives: Proceedings of The Fifth Decennial Aarhus Conference 17- 21 August 2015, Aarhus, Denmark. Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, pp. 65-68, The fifth decennial Aarhus conference, Aarhus, Denmark, 17/08/2015. <http://cs.au.dk/~hko/Aarhus2015ProceedingsVolumeI.pdf>

Note to Self: Stop Calling Interfaces “Natural”. / Hansen, Lone Koefoed ; Dalsgaard, Peter.
Critical alternatives: Proceedings of The Fifth Decennial Aarhus Conference 17- 21 August 2015, Aarhus, Denmark. ed. / Shaowen Bardzell; Susanne Bødker; Ole Sejer Iversen; Clemens N. Klokmose; Henrik Korsgaard. Aarhus: Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University, 2015. p. 65-68.

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

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ER -

Note to Self: Stop Calling Interfaces “Natural”

Abstract

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