Robert Fabricant – Behavior is our Medium

This video shows Robert Fabricant giving a talk about interaction design. He describes interaction design as a practice beyond computer technology stating that technology is not the medium – behavior is. Its a detailed talk outlining the importance of behavior being the primary medium for interactive design.

Apparently Fabricants’ statements about the primary medium for interactive design during this talk stirred quite some controversy. He found it interesting that his statement seemed controversial seen as though most interaction designers believe in a holistic approach towards human centered design meaning interaction designers take into account all the contexts surrounded by use and then builds a unified interaction model to support the user needs through the contexts. Not only does this approach focus on expressed needs, it also focus’s on unexpressed needs such as emotions and desires.

Why the controversy? Why are these interactive designers distressed at the idea that they study human behavior?

Fabricant raised a good point on this notion. He believes that interactive designers might have some discomfort with their role for influencing behavior. He goes on to mention that if we cannot move past our issues and exert some influence through products and services designed, then how will change come about?

Im slightly puzzled by this statement because i look around and i see immense change within human behavior through the products and services interactive designers design. Technology has changed the way society communicates and continues to change the way society communicates everyday through social networking, web applications and devices. If designers are so worried about influencing behavior then they must be living in a different universe because in my opinion the entire world is built on influencing behavior. Some might even say societies behavior is so influenced we hardly have to think anymore.

I believe its a matter of designing for the needs of users to allow them to approach their needs in their own way. But thinking about it, i can see examples of this within the design industry too.

I find this topic very intriguing and hope to cover more on the matter. I invite others to express their theories and opinions to gain more insight on this topic!