Introduction to Paradigms in Interactive Systems

Introduction to Paradigms

• Interactive systems aim to enable users to achieve specific objectives within application domains.
• Designers are faced with two key questions:
  • How can interactive systems be designed and developed to ensure usability?
  • How can the usability of an interactive system be evaluated?
• One approach to addressing these questions is to study successful examples of interactive systems, which serve as paradigms for future product development.

What are Paradigms?

• A "paradigm" is a model or pattern used as a typical example.
• Paradigms in various fields, especially science, are frameworks of understanding.
• These frameworks include accepted theories, principles, and methods within a particular scientific discipline.
• They guide research, shape hypotheses, and influence the interpretation of data.
• Examples include Aristotelian, Newtonian, and Einsteinian paradigms in physics.

Paradigm Shifts for Interaction

• Significant advancements in computing have led to notable paradigm shifts:
  • Batch processing
  • Time-sharing
  • Networking
  • Graphical display
  • World Wide Web (WWW)
  • Ubiquitous computing
• These shifts fundamentally change how users interact with computers.

Batch Processing

• A computing paradigm where tasks are collected sequentially, and executed without user intervention.
• Jobs are submitted in batches and held until sufficient resources are available for processing.
• Key elements include job submission, sequential processing, and efficient large-scale data processing.
• Batch processing often excels in large-scale data handling and resource optimization.
• Impersonal computing is a key characteristic of this computing paradigm

Time-Sharing

• A computing model where multiple users access and utilize a single computer system concurrently.
• Unlike batch processing, time-sharing facilitates real-time interaction and instant feedback.
• Users interact directly with the computer, facilitating efficient resource sharing.
• Key aspects include real-time interaction, resource sharing, and multi-user environments.
• This model led to the development of interactive user interfaces.

Networking

• Early networking protocols (1960s-1980s) introduced several architectural models:
  • Client-Server Architecture
  • Peer-to-peer (P2P) Networking
• Modern advancements include:
  • Cloud computing
  • The Internet of Things (IoT)
  • 5G and beyond
• These paradigm shifts highlight connectivity improvements, efficiency, and scalability in the increasingly interconnected world.

Graphical Display

• The evolution of graphical display technology fundamentally altered the presentation, interaction, and perception of information.
• Key paradigm shifts include:
  • Text-based displays to graphical user interfaces (GUIs)
  • High-resolution and color displays
  • 3D graphics and accelerated graphics processing units (GPUs)
  • Mobile and touchscreen interfaces
  • Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR)
  • Flexible and wearable displays

World Wide Web (WWW)

• A paradigm shift that revolutionized how information is accessed, shared, and globally communicated.
• Key paradigm shifts in the WWW include:
  • Hyperlinking and information accessibility
  • Graphical web browsers
  • E-commerce and online transactions
  • Social networking and user-generated content
  • Mobile web and responsive design
  • Semantic web and linked data

Ubiquitous Computing

• A computing paradigm that seamlessly integrates computational capabilities into everyday objects and environments, making computing omnipresent.
• Key features include:
  • Embedded Systems
  • Sensor Networks
  • Wearable Devices
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
• Advances in ubiquitous computing redefine interactions with the digital world.

Programming Toolkits

• Programming toolkits provide essential building blocks for creating complex interactive systems.
• Typical features include:
  • Pre-built components for common functionalities (UI elements, data structures, input/output)
  • Abstractions of complexity for easier implementation of tasks
  • Cross-platform compatibility to enable code deployment across different environments
  • Integration with ecosystems, community support, customizability, and extensibility
• These aspects support the flexible and efficient creation of interactive applications.

This quiz explores the concept of paradigms within the context of interactive systems, focusing on usability, design, and evaluation. It delves into various examples and frameworks that guide the development of interactive applications. Participants will gain insight into how paradigms shape understanding and influence research in technology.