This unit introduces the most important ID terminology, explains why ID is important, and gives a description of the main ID activities and the characteristics of the ID process. It starts with a video programme that introduces the topic of interaction design in a light-hearted manner.

Several of the examples and activities in this unit are based around the design of car dashboards - an interactive product that I hope is familiar to you. You should note that M364 defines an interactive product as being an artefact with which a user can interact. For our purposes, this artefact is usually based around computing technology, and may be both hardware and software (e.g. a personal organiser) or just software (e.g. a website). This is a very broad definition, which includes a wide range of systems.

Some of the activities are computer based, and one of these activities provides you with the opportunity to explore the vast ID resources on the World Wide Web.