Modality (human–computer interaction): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Type of data}}

{{distinguish|Mode (user interface)}}

In the context of [[human–computer interaction]], a '''modality''' is the classification of a single independent channel of [[input/output]] between a computer and a human. Such channels may differ based on sensory nature (e.g., visual vs. auditory),<ref name="HCI Overview2">{{cite journal|last1 = Karray|first1 = Fakhreddine|last2 = Alemzadeh|first2 = Milad|last3 = Saleh|first3 = Jamil Abou|last4 = Arab|first4 = Mo Nours|title = Human-Computer Interaction: Overview on State of the Art|journal = International Journal on Smart Sensing and Intelligent Systems|date = March 2008|volume = 1|issue = 1| pages=137–159 | doi=10.21307/ijssis-2017-283 |url = http://www.s2is.org/issues/v1/n1/papers/paper9.pdf|accessdate = April 21, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150430205510/http://s2is.org/Issues/v1/n1/papers/paper9.pdf|archive-date = April 30, 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> or other significant differences in processing (e.g., text vs. image).<ref>https://arxiv.org/abs/{{cite arXiv | eprint=2301.13823 | author1=Jing Yu Koh | last2=Salakhutdinov | first2=Ruslan | last3=Fried | first3=Daniel | title=Grounding Language Models to Images for Multimodal Inputs and Outputs | date=2023 | class=cs.CL }}</ref>

A system is designated unimodal if it has only one modality implemented, and [[multimodal interaction|multimodal]] if it has more than one.<ref name="HCI Overview2" /> When multiple modalities are available for some tasks or aspects of a task, the system is said to have overlapping modalities. If multiple modalities are available for a task, the system is said to have redundant modalities. Multiple modalities can be used in combination to provide complementary methods that may be redundant but convey information more effectively.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Interactive Systems. Design, Specification, and Verification|last1 = Palanque|first1 = Philippe|publisher = Springer Science & Business Media|year = 2001|isbn = 9783540416630|pages = [https://archive.org/details/springer_10.1007-3-540-44675-3/page/n50 43]|last2 = Paterno|first2 = Fabio|url = https://archive.org/details/springer_10.1007-3-540-44675-3}}</ref> Modalities can be generally defined in two forms: computer-human and human-computer modalities.

==Computer–HumanComputer–human modalities==

Computers utilize a wide range of technologies to communicate and send information to humans:

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** [[Equilibrioception]] (balance)

Any human sense can be used as a computer to human modality. However, the modalities of [[visual perception|seeing]] and [[hearing (sense)|hearing]] are the most commonly employed since they are capable of transmitting information at a higher speed than other modalities, 250 to 300<ref name=Ziefle98>{{cite journal|last1=Ziefle|first1=M|title=Effects of display resolution on visual performance.|journal=Human Factors|date=December 1998|volume=40|issue=4|pages=554–68|pmid=9974229|doi=10.1518/001872098779649355}}</ref> and 150 to 160<ref>Williams, J. R. (1998). Guidelines for the use of multimedia in instruction, Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 42nd Annual Meeting, 1447–1451</ref> [[words per minute]], respectively. Though not commonly implemented as computer-human modality, tactition can achieve an average of 125 wpm<ref>{{cite web|title=Braille|url=http://www.acb.org/node/67|website=ACB|publisher=American Council of the Blind|accessdate=21 April 2015}}</ref> through the use of a [[refreshable Braille display]]. Other more common forms of tactition are smartphone and game controller vibrations.

==Human–computer modalities==

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==Using multiple modalities==

* {{Annotated linkmain|Multimodal interaction}}

Having multiple modalities in a system gives more [[affordance]] to users and can contribute to a more robust system. Having more also allows for greater [[accessibility]] for users who work more effectively with certain modalities. Multiple modalities can be used as backup when certain forms of communication are not possible. This is especially true in the case of redundant modalities in which two or more modalities are used to communicate the same information. Certain combinations of modalities can add to the expression of a computer-human or human-computer interaction because the modalities each may be more effective at expressing one form or aspect of information than others.

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==See also==

* {{Annotated link|Multimodal interaction}}

* {{Annotated link|Multimodal learning}}

* {{Annotated link|Multisensory integration}}