Interactivity

Consumers today are no longer limited to simply intaking information. Elements of mass media can (and should) go much further beyond simply presenting information for a consumer to take in. It is not enough for the consumer to be an onlooker of the media he or she perceives. They can actually be part of it, playing a role in what information is presented to them and how that information becomes accessible. They may even have a role in creating that content. This idea of interactivity brings the digital age into a new era of measuring the success of media platforms. Interactivity is such an integral quality to any given work that if it is absent, the entity practically digs its own grave in its ability to connect with its audience. 

Hongkiat, a website specializing in technology, design, and inspiration, demonstrates the applicability of interactivity online in an article titled "Importance of Web Interactivity: Tips and Examples." The post show instances from around the web of all different sorts of companies and initiatives that utilize interactivity, including some we discussed in class, such as Starbucks and Monoface. These websites are not sterile. They become a different experience for each and every user because they allow the user to create, to change, and to choose.

As stressed in class, the design of a website it essential in its success, and in exploring the article's list of best interactive websites, it became clear to me that design is not its own separate aspect of creating a website. It is not interdependent of the interactivity. In fact, if anything, it is the catalyst of that interactivity, the thing that opens the doors to infinite creative possibilities in terms of how the user can engage with the content. If the website has a certain theme that the designer can run and go crazy with, there will be more availability to make different elements within that theme part of the interactive aesthetic of the website. For instance, one website the article shows is a prospective employee's portfolio. The website is depicted as an aerial view of a cluttered desk. The user can interact with different objects on the desk to see different qualities of the person's skillset and experience.

Clearly, interactivity is a key component in not just retaining a user for a longer period of time, but allowing them to connect with the website instead of their experience being a passive one. To celebrate our accomplishments in learning about interactivity, please enjoy this video of a surfing pig. I bet he's ready for a fun Hawaiian luau.