When the first GUIs were created they leveraged perhaps the most ubiquitous items people experienced in an office environment: a desktop with folders and documents.
As we move into the world of AJAX and rich interactions, the principle of leveraging experience can be extended not just to objects but how we interact with those objects. Google maps provide a familiar example. Using rich interactions, we are able to interact with the map almost as if it were a physical object (without having to figure out how to fold it – a benefit to be sure). Another form of interaction being seen more and more is the concept of a sliding drawer. Objects we may need are closely available, but are not consuming precious screen real estate until needed.
As rich interaction and AJAX technologies mature, they present endless possibilities for the designer to create something that is innovative through its familiarity.
