Exploring Next-Generation Touch-Rich Interactions for Consumer Well-Being

Abstract

This article critically examines the touchscreen as a lived technology and argues that next-generation devices should take advantage of more ‘touch-rich’ interactions. We begin from the premise that the ubiquity of touch-screen devices, combined with the frequency of use, appear to have a negative effect on consumer well-being (Lee et al. 2014; Elhai et al. 2016). Today’s industry heavily relies on the image-based economy (of photographic desires, concepts, and visual attention), which significantly contributes to the information overload, unhealthy consumption of visual information through basic touch interactions and largely overlooks designing for other senses (Schroeder 2004; Shedroff 1999). The smoothness of the touchscreen provides an ideal interface for an unbroken visual information stream; this is its benefit from an industry standpoint but is also linked to several concerns regarding consumer well-being, due to an intense, constant influx of informational ‘noise’ (Himma 2007). We argue that the infinite stream of incoming information could be reduced by shifting focus to developing touch-rich interactions for tactile senses instead of visual-based perception, and suggest this as a clear, near- future direction for interface design, whereby touch replaces noise. Combining insights from interaction design, product design and cognitive psychology, we argue for more touch-rich interface experiences as a mode of disrupting current device conventions. We project five keyways in which touch-richness might enhance user experience, with implications for consumer well-being. Touch. Tactility. Touch-poor interactions. Touch-rich interactions. Design for touch-rich experience.