
The phrase “interaction design” is used to refer to the art and science of shaping digital systems, but interaction itself is, of course, broader and more basic than a particular set of technologies. Before digital design appropriated the term, an interaction most often took the form of an exchange or conversation with another human being. And interaction design, if such a thing existed, might have meant positioning yourself in such a way as to have a particular type of conversation—making sure that you got seated next to the right person at dinner, for example.
David Womack is a writer, editor, and consultant who contributes articles on design and technology to publications including Metropolis, I.D., and Print. He co-edits Adobe Think Tank.