Interaction is the direct involvement with something. Interaction design relates to the aspects of the interface that the user clicks on or receives feedback from in some way (think: a button that leads them to another page is an interaction). When done properly, interaction design lifts the users experience. By providing instant feedback, through links, buttons and animation, the user is drawn to the site and more likely to stay longer. Interactions need to be thoroughly thought out and planned. Unnecessary interactions can be distracting or confusing. Interaction designers need to consider who they are designing for, their context and prior knowledge.

Designer, Bill Verplank believes the 3 questions to ask are:

how do you do? (act)
(the client does something and we provide the tools)

how do you feel? (think)
(we provide the platform that we think is best suited – control the machine to give them feedback)

how do you know?
(what kind of knowledge do we expect of our users – how can we best guide them)

Sharp, Rogers and Preece, (2002) Interaction Design, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY, USA.

Interactivity is something that responds to an action. Types of common interactivity include: phones, websites, conversations and the 5 senses (things we can see, touch, smell, taste, hear). Interactions can be small and almost unrecognisable or explicit. It is most important to understand who you are designing for, once you understand the user, a designer can better plan and create accordingly.

Waterson, S. (2019). GDIDMPOD01a [Online Lecture]. Retrieved from  https://vimeo.com/319375480