Future of User Interface Design

5 min readApr 6, 2022

Hi guys !!!

In this blog, I hope to cover about what user interface is, explore the future of user interface design and see what it has in store for us, and next generation UI design tools.

Let’s see what user interface is..

The user interface (UI) is the point at which human users interact with a computer, website or application. The goal of effective UI is to make the user’s experience easy and intuitive, requiring minimum effort on the user’s part to receive maximum desired outcome.

Some types of user interfaces are:

Form-based user interface, Graphical user interface, Menu-driven user interface, Touch user interface and Voice user interface.

Let’s explore explore the future of user interface design and see what it has in store for us.

Brain Computer Interface

In simple language, brain computer interface (BCI), sometimes also known as direct neural interface or a brain machine interface, is a communication tool between a user (their brain) and a system (an external technology).

Our brain contains neurons that transmit signals to other nerve cells. These neurons generate brain waves and these waves control the system in brain computer interface. The BCI records the brain waves and then sends it to the computer system to accomplish the intended task.

These electric signals generated by the brain with our thoughts have a specific brain wave pattern for each thought. The wave signal controls an object and is used to express an idea.

In 2012 g.tec introduced the intendiX-SPELLER, the first commercially available BCI system for home use to control computer games and apps.

Gesture Recognition

Gesture Interfaces refers to operating the interface using gestures of hand movements or touch like scrolling, tapping, pinching, tilting, or shaking, etc.

Gesture based UI has come a long way in today’s tech environment and is gaining popularity in the future of user interface design.

Example: XBOX 360 Kinect uses gestures to navigate the home screen, sign in or play a game. The future of gestural user interfaces in gaming includes the use of gesture-capable movements and touch screens that provide greater gaming control, mostly for 3D gaming.

Wearable Computers

Wearable computers also known as wearable interfaces (or wearables) are small electronic devices that can be worn on body parts (mostly wrist). For e.g. smart watch, wristband, ring, pins, eyeglasses, etc.

Wearables are like a helping hand to manage physical tasks and remind you of your routine. Most devices are used for health related tasks like checking heart rate, cholesterol level, calorie intake, etc.

The highly developed examples of wearable technology include Google Glass, and AI powered hearing aids, among others.

Voice User Interface

Voice User Interfaces or VUI is an audio, visual and tactile interface that facilitates voice interaction or communication between an individual and a device. It is not necessary for a VUI to have a visual interface.

Voice User interface has met revolutionary success with smart assistants like Siri, Alexa, Google and Cortana, with speech being the fundamental form of human communication. The future of user interface design is right here, which is improving and advancing as the machine learning abilities widen with increased interaction.

People are more into voice interface because it can work faster and save a lot of time. Since voice interfaces use less cognition and more of intuitive response, it is easy for people to accomplish tasks or ease their work without much trouble.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality is no longer an emerging technology. Although the adoption levels are still at an early stage, companies have been using the AR experience in a number of apps, games, glasses and systems.

AR has shown a potential for many solutions and that’s why the market being flooded and influenced by this technology. It is quite likely that the future of UI design with AR is going to make a big impact in the market.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality, commonly known as VR is a seasoned player in technology, but it reached new heights in the last few years with the introduction of VR headsets.

Virtual Reality gives a fresh experience by generating a three dimensional artificial environment that is explored and interacted with by an individual. The virtual environment is presented in a way to make the user feel like it’s a real environment.

The ability of VR to create immersive and enjoyable experiences is leading it to new sectors like medicine, architecture, gaming, entertainment, hospitality and arts. It’s just that more exploration and technology advancement is required for a high potential interface to make a great impact in our day to day life.

Let’s see some next generation UI design Tools

Future user interface tools will bring design and code together to provide a more seamless experience for designers and developers.

Webflow

Webflow is the cool kid on the block. It’s young, new and holds great promise. The tagline on their website is “Build better business websites, faster. Without coding.” so clearly they are going for the no-code designers. And not just designers. They have the potential to become the Dreamweaver of the 21st century.

Hadron

Hadron is a development environment for designers and developers who work together towards the same goal, moving ideas forward and learning from each other along the way.”