Successful natural user interfaces

Successful natural user interfaces feel intuitive and joyful to use. Information objects in a NUI behave in a manner that users intuitively expect. Unlike a successful GUI in which many options and commands are presented all at once and are depicted with very subtle hierarchy and visual emphasis, a successful NUI contains fewer options with interaction scaffolding. Scaffolding is a strong cue or guide that sets users’ expectations by giving them an indication of how the interaction will unfold.

Good NUIs support users as they engage with the system and unfold or reveal themselves through actions in a natural fashion.