NUI and UI Evolution

Many UI / UX designers are familiar with NUI (Natural user interface) . Many simply saw reacTable, a musical instrument. Strictly speaking, reacTable is not an ideal example of a device with a NUI interface, because it uses material objects to control it, but after seeing it you can visualize what the interfaces will be in the near future.
We will not follow the exact terminology, but just dream and think about which NUI interaction methods are available to us now. But first, a little history, the evolution of the user interface.

Story.

The first computers used to control the command input (console). It goes without saying that to use programs with such an interface, special training and a certain level of knowledge were required. Later in 1973, the first computer using a graphical interface appeared in the Xerox lab, and even later, the idea was embodied in more successful commercial Apple and Windows systems. Since then, even the very concept of “interface” has been associated with the graphical user interface (GUI) for many.


The evolution of the user interface.
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User experience and GUI.

The emergence of computers with a graphical interface has revolutionized, and made it possible to use it, having a minimum level of training and knowledge. Moreover, the interaction experience has become universal. For example, once having learned that clicking on the cross in the program window, in the upper right corner, causes it to close, we remember it forever. Interface designers use this previous experience in prototyping and build new interfaces based on it. Whatever program or site I open, in less than a minute, I can master at least 80% of the ways to interact with it. All this, thanks to the experience obtained earlier.

Nui

A distinctive feature of the NUI is the interpretation of the experience obtained in the real world. For example, from birth, we understand how to move objects in space, just as we can move objects in a virtual environment. NUI is an intuitive interface. Theoretically, a person who saw a computer for the first time in his life, with such an interface, is capable of solving certain tasks on it.
Many applications with a touch interface are in many ways close to the ideal NUI. This consideration mostly concerns applications developed for children, since in them we cannot fully use the acquired user experience. For children, we have to develop interfaces that are clear quickly and immediately.



All the same industry leaders as 20 years ago pay a lot of attention to NUI. Microsoft created Kinect, and Surface. Apple revolutionized with the iPad. Such technology as augmented reality further contributes to the development of NUI.

Conclusion

We don’t yet know how to create intuitive interfaces for special programs such as Photoshop or Eclipse. But while it is not necessary, it seems our generation will never be able to get rid of the GUI, it is so firmly established in our mind. But the generation that is growing up will probably be puzzled to look at the methods of interaction that exist now, if ever they find out about them.