New Global Paradigms in Interactivity

We live in an increasingly interconnected world, yet some of today's devices and applications are still oriented toward specific national audiences. One example would be different versions of IKEA's online avatar Anna, mentioned in Rogers, Sharpe, and Preece's Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction (p. 50). The avatar is different depending on whether the user is in the United States or the United Kingdom. America has had a dominant influence on global graphic representations that appear online. However, other cultures may impact America's visual media. Anime is as an important part of Japan's media culture.

An earlier generation of American kids interested in Pokemon may impact our future acceptance of non-American avatars.

Discussion Questions

• Will American computer users become increasingly open to avatars from other countries entering our everyday online experience?
• Could the acceptance of foreign-born avatars impact how Americans interact with technology in their lives?
• How will native-born avatars differ from those being introduced to us from other countries?

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least one other learner's posting with thoughtful, insightful, and helpful comments. You are expected to respond with at least three paragraphs of three sentences each.

Reference

Rogers, Y., Sharp, H., & Preece, J. (2011). Interaction design: Beyond human-computer interaction (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Wiley. ISBN: 9780470665763

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