ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a perspective on why the survival patterns of our ancestors affect how we relate to modern media. Every human comes into modern world with a body, and that body is designed to experience the world by receiving information through the senses. The brain learns to interpret the body’s sensory experiences. By understanding some of the brain’s hardwiring, and how to trigger certain reactions, designers can intentionally tap into the most primitive aspects of human experience and perception to create more immersive and powerful media, whether for children or adults. The brain takes in all media as sensory information, integrates it in microseconds, and then has a reaction. In the triune model, each area of the brain interprets and responds to input differently, depending on its function. Creating an engaging interactive experience is about deliberately talking to all the brains at once, offering something for each, and then offering the opportunity for ongoing communication.
