How We Talk About Interactivity: Modes and Meanings in HCI Research

Interactivity is central to digital products, systems and experiences. It has long been studied from different disciplinary perspectives but while applications continue to be described as 'more' or 'less' interactive, there is a lack of consensus on its meaning. One approach to improving understanding is to focus on the different ways we talk about it rather than pursuing a single all-purpose definition. This study examines how interactivity is treated in a sample of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) research papers (N = 117). We use a combined content and discourse analysis approach to explore the range of definitions and technical configurations associated with the concept and unpick the wider discourses around it. We find it frequently described as a characteristic of technologies, an instrumental approach that suits quantitative measurement, but is acknowledged to miss other qualities. We also find qualitative user assessments that measure a spectrum of low to high interactivity, which are interpreted in different ways due to a lack of explicit definitions. The analysis reveals rich discursive material where different layered conceptions of interactivity arise, which we describe as 'modes' of interactivity. The dominant mode in HCI is 'empowerment', also found most frequently in public discourse. We offer modes of interactivity as a design and evaluation tool for more conscious consideration of this multidimensional concept. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Almost 10% of HCI research papers make reference to 'interactivity'-some involve assessment of levels of interactivity ( low to high) in applications. The few explicit definitions of the concept we found suit quantitative measurement but acknowledge that they do not adequately reflect its total qualities. The discourse reveals more multidimensional meanings in circulation but also influences from research in other disciplines like advertising and marketing. Modes offer a way to understand and describe different dimensions or layers of interactivity in research, design and evaluation of digital technologies. Empowerment is the most frequent mode of interactivity and relates to strategies and outcomes of communication and their lasting effects, not just potential actions and context, while Social interactivity is a new representation.