Interacting with a System
Before talking about User Interfaces and Graphical User Interfaces, we want to begin with the basics. How machines
and humans interact.
First we want to describe the stages of actions users go through when faced with the task of using a system. According to
(1988) there are seven stages of a typical user interaction with a generic interaction system:
1. Forming the goal: I want to do something in a program.
2. Forming the intention: I have to start the program.
3. Specifying the action: I have to click on a button to open the program.
4. Executing the action: I click on the button.
5. Perceive the system state: Note that the computer operates.
6. Interpret the system state: The computer opens (hopefully) the right program.
7. Semantically evaluating the interaction outcome: Note that the right program is open.