The word”interaction” has gone viral during the recent years.However,it seems that there is no clear definition of interaction.After viewing many artistic works and checking information which is related to interaction,I have a new understanding of interaction.From my perspective,interaction means acting with each other ,whether it is the acting between people,computers or between people and computers. More importantly,this is a two-way acting,which means both sides have to respond to the other’s reactions.Here,I will give two examples to illustrate my definition further.
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This is a device which uses wires to connect a helium-filled sphere with 15 drums.As the people play the drum,the sounds are converted into light waves and then reach the sphere.When the sphere receive the signal of light waves,it will show flexible points on the screen.Of greater interest is that the intensity of points depends on the speed and intensity of the people’s drumming.During the process,it’s not hard to find that not only the sphere but also people act–for the former,it’s about receiving the signal and changing it into variable images;for the latter,it’s about playing drums and watching the changes of image.As the action goes back and forth,the two sides’ respondings match my definiton of interaction,which is”acting with each other”.
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Here is another example.This is an optical illusion maneuvering device,which is inspired by the Penrose ladder.The artist want to create a visual illusion to make people feel calm and relaxed.The only movement of the device is to spin in one direction when feeling someone is around.A question came to my mind when I was appreciating this work: can we use the word”interaction” to describe it? Although the work is attached with a light sensing sensor to feel if someone is nearby,but it doesn’t make any changes when passerby try to go around to observe it.Therefore,”reaction” seems better to describe this situation and there’s a huge difference between interaction and reaction,namely,two-way and one-way.In this case,the reaction of the device is to feel someone coming and start spinning.After that,it won’t change anymore until the people leave, just like a stubborn person who refuses to receive any other information or feedback from other people.Hence,it doesn’t aligh with my definition of “interaction”,especially the word”two-way”.
In addition,there are other common cases like people having conversation with each other or computers running their programs and exchanging information.As long as it’s a two-way acting,I will consider the act as interaction.
Above all,that’s my own definition of interaction.Through further communication,I believe that we can have a better or deeper understanding of interaction.
(1)(2)Peter Erskine’s CROMOS_ Solar Spectrum Rainbow Art,Peter Erskine Mana https://www.manamana.net/video/detail?id=70417#!zh
(3)(4)涡——视错觉机动装置,郑洱汗 Mana https://www.manamana.net/video/detail?id=1644769#!zh
