Initiating and Replicating the Observations of Interactional Properties by User Studies Optimizing Applicative Prototypes

Abstract: The science of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is populated by isolated empirical findings, often tied to specific technologies, designs, and tasks. This paper proposes a formalization of user interaction observations (instead of user interfaces) and an associated revealing method (interaction loop diffraction). The resulting interactional properties that are studied in a calibrated manner, are well suited to replication across various conditions (prototypes, technologies, tasks, and user profiles). In particular, interactional properties can emerge and be replicated within the workflow of applicative cases, which in return benefit from the optimization of applicative prototypes. Applicative cases' publications will then contribute to demonstrating technology utility, along with providing empirical results that will lead future work to theory consolidation and theory building, and finally to a catalog and a science of relevant interactional properties. These properties will contribute to better user interactions, especially for the variety of ubiquitous user interfaces.