User Experience, Software Interfaces, and The Unconscious

Abstract: Ideas about how to increase the unconscious participation in interaction between 'a human' and 'a computer' are developed in this paper. Evidence of impact of the unconscious functioning is presented. The unconscious is characterised as being a responsive, contextual, and autonomous participant of human-computer interaction. The unconscious participation occurs independently of one's cognitive and educational levels and, if ignored, leads to learning inefficiencies and compulsive behaviours, illustrations of which are provided. Three practical approaches to a study of subjective user experience are outlined as follows: (a) tracing operant conditioning effects of software, (b) registering signs of brain activity psychological or information processing meaning of which is well-explored and (c) exploring submodality interfaces. Implications for improvement of current usability study methods, such as eye-tracking, are generally considered. Conclusions consider advantages and disadvantages of unconscious-embracing design and remind about a loss of human evolutionary choices if unconscious participation is ignored, complicated or blocked in interaction with computer interfaces and built environment.