Lessons of Science Fiction Computer Interfaces

Nathan Shedroff and Christopher Noessel co-authored the book “Make It So: Interaction Design Lessons from Science Fiction.” The book hits on a relationship many of us in the IT world have enjoyed for years, the interconnected nature of science fiction and the innovators who are creating products of today. In the book, Shedroff and Noessel not only point to the relationship between SciFi and products, but extract lessons for designers.

Shedroff points out that everything in the design process is fiction till it gets on the market. Design all starts with imagination, just like good SciFi. Shedroff and Noessel also point out that not everything you see in SciFi is great design. There are plenty of failures (of course! but we are not going to harp on that, why be a downer?).

For an entertaining and enjoyable look at SciFi and computer interface design see Chris Noessel’s short presentation here:

For more on this theme we recommend Chris Noessel’s blog: scifiinterfaces.com

And for more on technology and the media see our Entertainment and SciFi pages.