UNDERSTANDING INTERACTION TRAPS
ANN E. BLANDFORD, Harold Thimbleby, Nick Bryan–Kinns, East London · 2003
We propose the idea of an interaction trap as a consequence of dissonance (or “misunderstanding”) between users and systems. These result in inefficient or failed interactions that, from an objective viewpoint, could have been efficient and successful. Interaction traps result in an unsatisfactory user experience and possible long-term inefficiency. We illustrate the argument with examples taken from both empirical studies (which demonstrate that such traps occur) and discussion of systems design (arguing that such traps can often be anticipated, and hence avoided, in design).