INTERACTION DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR INTERACTIVE ...

through the different elements offered, or to follow along a specified path? How
easy is it for users to exit the program? As interface is explored from a visual
culture perspective, navigation will be explored from a usability perspective.
Within environments of increased functionality, maintaining usability should be a
key design goal for interaction designers.
The principles presented in this chapter are necessarily generalized because they
must be robust enough to apply across a range of design situations. They are not strict
rules or guidelines, but are rather observations gleaned from examining existing designs
in abstraction, “the process by which the essential qualities of the thing being represented
are separated from the actual physical object or event. By removing superficial or
idiosyncratic details, the designer helps the viewer see the formal qualities that tie the
representation to its object” (Mullet & Sano, 1994). Whenever possible, I will also
identify some common pitfalls and suggest techniques for maximizing the effectiveness
of the design.
5.1.6 The Designer’s Challenge
The greatest challenge for iTV interaction designers is to design easy to use,
engaging, and satisfying experiences for viewers while maximizing the affordances of the
digital medium. While designers have a responsibility to keep up with evolving
technology platforms, it is worthwhile to keep in mind that in the long run, “interaction is
governed by our biology, psychology, society and culture… As each new technology
matures, customers are no longer happy with the flashy promises of the technology but
instead demand understandable and workable designs… Technology may change rapidly,
but people change slowly” (Norman, 2002). The key to good iTV interaction design is to
motivate the viewers and not to disappoint them when they do act: present users with an
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