mudyc/deftity

A tool for interaction architects

Deftity - a tool for interaction architects

Author:	Matti Katila

Deft is something smooth, artful and skillful (specially in hands). Deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling <a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel> (src: merriam-webster).

Deftity is a tool for interaction architects to compose user interfaces for computers. However, it's not a visual design tool.

Interaction is something that happens between user and the device. For instance user's eyes are input port for device's screen which is output, and user's hands may be source for input events. However, there may be other events as well, such as time or incoming call. More event sources the more complicated design.

Except event handling interaction architect is also about design of change. It's the responsibility of interaction architect to design the change to outputs when event has come, e.g. play a ringtone.

     t0           t1
-----+------------+--------->
     |<- change ->|
     |            '- Output changes
     |
     '- Input event

In this trivial example it's rather simple to say that ringtone shall be played and stopped when line closes. However, it's not. How about ringtone + silent mode? Or ringtone + watching video? Or ringtone when music player is playing? Someone has to think of these cases. Someone has to make decisions. Someone has to think the best scenario for the user. Someone has to think what would be consistent for the system. It's not rocket sciense nor brain surgery but it should be simple to present. It should be simple to understand by those who implement it.

What are architects made of?

My take on architect is about communication. Architect is someone who has technical skills but utilizes those by mouth or other communication. That is, anyone can have technical talent but only those who can communicate it out should became architects.

So, interaction architect should be able to design the interaction and be able to communicate that design to developers. For this purpose there is need for tools. Dia, for example, is useful general purpose sketching visualizer. My take on deftity is to learn Cairo and try to focus on things that are essentials for interaction design.

Some weird design ideas

Remove traditional save and load. File is saved when it is changed. Hopefully there is plenty of room.

Write the content into png file and utilize some metainfo field to describe the actual content of the design. ;))