Engagement as process in human-computer interactions

Recently there has been an increased emphasis on holistic user experiences in human-computer interactions. Interface design is moving beyond usability, aiming to be aesthetically pleasing, emotionally appealing, and engaging. The term engagement is frequently mentioned in the literature as a goal of interface design, yet the construct remains abstract and ill-defined. The well-established frameworks of Flow Theory, Play Theory, and Aesthetic Theory provide a foundation in which to ground engagement and to begin to explore the attributes that must be present in engaging design. We conceptualize engagement as a process rather than a single instance. Our proposed model views engaging interactions as being comprised of three distinct stages: the user must become engaged, sustain the engagement, and eventually disengage from the system. Establishing a solid framework for engagement will enable us to operationally define the term and to develop techniques and instruments for measuring it. Without a rich, theoretical understanding of what constitutes engaging interactions between users and computer interfaces, we cannot ensure that design practices are truly engaging; user's experience with computer-mediated environments must involve the user cognitively, behaviorally, and affectively.