ABSTRACT
Interaction design (IxD) is not just about clicking on, or tapping buttons to navigate to different screens. It encompasses a wide spectrum, most importantly — human factors. This chapter explores interaction and user experience design in action. It discusses the components of user experience design. The chapter describes principles and "laws" of interaction design. It also discusses how mental models influence conceptual models for different types of user engagement. The chapter explains how to design an interactive app for a smartphone. Interactive elements that look like physical objects or user interfaces that mimic a real environment can enhance a project's usability. Fitts's Law also encourages placement of buttons and menus at the edges or corners of the screen as they provide a boundary that a cursor cannot go beyond. As a result, the probability of interacting with the item increases. Hick's Law also deals with time and is related to Miller's Law regarding short-term memory.
