The anatomy of engagement

Motivation -- Definitions and theories of user experience are vague and conflicting. This paper suggests that an account based on engagement is a more useful approach. Research approach -- An account of engagement is presented which is based on an ontological description of everyday experience. Findings/Design -- The account has three distinct but closely related components. Firstly we see engagement as being positive (we characterize interaction as being re-active) and exploratory: it is this exploration which creates a 'space' in which engagement occurs. What we reveal in this space are the affordances of the artefact which we subsequently exploit. We engage with something and continue to do so because we enjoy doing so -- thus affect has an important role in engagement. Finally, we engage with technology because it allows us to achieve our purposes and these purposes are a reciprocal expression of ourselves. Research limitations/Implications -- Future work will add empirical support to the theoretically-based account. Originality/Value -- The work contributes to the understanding of how to design engaging user experiences. Take away message -- An ontologically-based account of engagement may be more tractable than the many more expansive accounts of user experience.