ABSTRACT
The guiding premise of this chapter is that a primary function of interfaces in complex systems is to couple intention, perception, and action. That is, the goal of interface design is to specify the field of possible actions that can be performed and the potential consequences of those actions relative to the functional goals and values of an organization. In this context, the interface is seen as a component of a triadic semiotic (or sensemaking) system. This chapter describes a holistic approach to this system, consistent with a belief that the function of the interface can only be fully understood in the context of emergent dynamics of the full sensemaking system.
