There is neither a perfect, nor a natural, nor even a Holy Grail of interfaces.

Every interface requires some amount of training or intuition. For those conducting human-computer interaction research, this is a familiar and welcomed challenge that has, at times, felt unrealistic. But times are changing, and some pie-in-the-sky ideas we had a few years ago are far more manageable to consider today.

To showcase emerging technology, and highlight the relative ease by which everyone can begin exploring alternative user interfaces (AUI), Viget created an experimental project that allows users to interact with computers in nontraditional ways.

Traditionally interactions that were once inarguably the domain of Command Line Interfaces (CLI) (think DOS) became the domain of Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) (your computer) and are now open to AUIs (touch screens, speech recognition). One reason for this change is simply the advancement of technology: today there are fewer technological constraints. Essentially our toolbox, as product designers and engineers, has caught up with our vision for ideal experiences.

More recently, low-cost computing power and ubiquitous connectivity has led to the “Internet of Things” (IOT), a network of physical devices and connected systems. While this industry is still in its infancy, we recognize its potential to provide a massive infrastructure from which AUIs develop. This convergence of innovative interfaces with large networks represent a tremendous opportunity. So how do you innovate? What is the best way to prototype and develop an idea? How can you apply best practices for product development in such a nascent space?

Viget created a toolkit that you can start with right away. We call it Screenless, and it’s premised on the idea that by simply removing a screen you are forced to think creatively about a product’s interface. By adding internet connectivity this may create a more desireable and seamless user experience.