Interactive Design:

The creation of meaningful experiences typically focusing on the use of software driven tactile, speech, virtual or augmented reality based devices.  The background retrieval and processing of user requested or proactively delivered information in an effort to transform the thinking or environment of the user to achieve a specific outcome. 

Interactive design consists of six main components including user control, responsiveness, real-time interactions, connectedness, personalization, and playfulness.

Ø  Focuses on the use and experience of the software

Ø  Retrieving and processing information through on-demand responsiveness

Ø  Acting upon information to transform it

Ø  The constant changing of information and media, regardless of changes in the device

Ø  Providing interactivity through a focus on the capabilities and constraints of human cognitive processing

While both definitions indicate a strong focus on the user, the difference arises from the purposes of Interactive Design and Interaction Design. In essence Interactive Design involves the creation of meaningful uses of hardware and systems and that Interaction Design is the design of those hardware and systems. Interaction Design without Interactive Design provides only hardware or an interface. Interactive Design without Interaction Design cannot exist for there is no platform for it to be used by the user.