# Interactive computing

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Software which accepts input from humans as it runs

Not to be confused with [Interactive computation](/source/Interactive_computation).

In [computer science](/source/Computer_science), **interactive computing** refers to [software](/source/Software) which accepts [input](/source/Input_(computer_science)) from the user as it runs.

Interactive software includes commonly used programs, such as [word processors](/source/Word_processor) or [spreadsheet](/source/Spreadsheet) [applications](/source/Application_software). By comparison, non-interactive programs operate without user intervention; examples of these include [compilers](/source/Compiler) and [batch processing](/source/Batch_processing) applications that are pre-programmed to run independently.

Interactive computing focuses on real-time interaction ("dialog") between the computer and the operator, and the technologies that enable them.[1]

If the response of the computer system is complex enough, it is said that the system is conducting [social interaction](/source/Social_interaction); some systems try to achieve this through the implementation of [social interfaces](/source/Social_interface).

The nature of interactive computing as well as its impact on users, are studied extensively in the field of [computer interaction](/source/Human-computer_interaction).

## History of interactive computing systems

[Ivan Sutherland](/source/Ivan_Sutherland) is considered the father of interactive computing for his work on [Sketchpad](/source/Sketchpad), the interactive display graphics program he developed in 1963. He later worked at the [ARPA](/source/Advanced_Research_Projects_Agency) Information Processing Techniques Office under the direction of [J. C. R. Licklider](/source/J._C._R._Licklider).

There he facilitated ARPA's research grant to [Douglas Engelbart](/source/Douglas_Engelbart) for developing the NLS[2] system at SRI, based on his visionary manifesto published in a 1962 report,[3] in which Engelbart envisioned interactive computing as a vehicle for user interaction with computers, with each other, and with their knowledge, all in a vast virtual information space.

In a 1965 report,[4] Engelbart published his early experiments with pointing devices, including the [computer mouse](/source/Computer_mouse), for composing and editing on interactive display [workstations](/source/Workstation). Engelbart's work on interactive computing at SRI migrated directly to [Xerox PARC](/source/Xerox_PARC), from there to [Apple](/source/Apple_Inc.), and out into the mainstream. Thus, the tree of evolution for interactive computing generally traces back to Engelbart's lab at SRI.[5]

In December 2008, on the 40th anniversary of his 1968 demo, SRI sponsored a public commemorative event in his honor.[6]

## Current research

The [HP Sprout](/source/Sprout_(computer)), a projector-camera interactive computing system.[7]

The need for constant user interaction in interactive computing systems makes it different in many ways from [batch processing](/source/Batch_processing) systems.

Areas of current research include the design of novel programming models[8] and achieving information security and reliability in interactive computing.[9]

[IPython](/source/IPython)[10] is a software system for scientific interactive computing,[11] supporting data visualization, [event-driven programming](/source/Event-driven_programming) and a number of related GUI toolkits.[12]

The Georgia Institute of Technology's [School of Interactive Computing](/source/Georgia_Institute_of_Technology_School_of_Interactive_Computing) formed in 2007, offering masters and doctoral degrees via collaboration with more than 40 faculties.[13]

The Tangible Media Group of [MIT](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology), led by Professor Hiroshi Ishii, seeks to seamlessly couple the dual world of bits and atoms by presenting a dynamic physical form to computation.[14]

## See also

- [Interactivity](/source/Interactivity)

- [Interactive computation](/source/Interactive_computation)

- [Processing modes](/source/Processing_modes)

- [J. C. R. Licklider](/source/J._C._R._Licklider)

- [Douglas Engelbart](/source/Douglas_Engelbart)

- [Ubiquitous computing](/source/Ubiquitous_computing)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["What is Interactive Computing?"](https://beki70.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/what-is-interactive-computing/). *Beki's Blog*. 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2016-04-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [About NLS/Augment](http://www.dougengelbart.org/about/augment.html), *Douglas Engelbart Institute*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Augmenting Human Intellect: A Conceptual Framework](http://dougengelbart.org/content/view/138/000/) (1962), *Douglas Engelbart Institute*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Computer-Aided Display Control](https://www.archive.org/stream/nasa_techdoc_19660020914/19660020914#page/n1/mode/2up) (1965), Douglas C. Engelbart

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Administrator. ["Interactive Computing - Doug Engelbart Institute"](http://www.dougengelbart.org/firsts/interactive-computing.html). *www.dougengelbart.org*. Retrieved 2016-04-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Engelbart and the Dawn of Interactive Computing](http://www.dougengelbart.org/events/40th.html), *Douglas Engelbart Institute*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Hands-on with the HP Sprout, an imaging powerhouse built into a touch-friendly PC"](http://www.pcworld.com/article/2878427/hands-on-with-the-hp-sprout-an-imaging-powerhouse-built-into-a-touch-friendly-pc.html). *PCWorld*. 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2016-04-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Perera, Roly (2008-05-14). "Programming Languages For Interactive Computing". *Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science*. Proceedings of the Workshop on the Foundations of Interactive Computation (FInCo 2007). **203** (3): 35–52. [CiteSeerX](/source/CiteSeerX_(identifier)) [10.1.1.95.7225](https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.95.7225). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.entcs.2008.04.085](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.entcs.2008.04.085).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Beaver, Donald (1991-08-11). "Foundations of Secure Interactive Computing". In Feigenbaum, Joan (ed.). *Advances in Cryptology – CRYPTO '91*. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Vol. 576. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 377–391. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/3-540-46766-1_31](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F3-540-46766-1_31). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783540551881](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783540551881).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [IPython official webpage](https://ipython.org/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Perez, F.; Granger, B. E. (2007-05-01). "IPython: A System for Interactive Scientific Computing". *Computing in Science & Engineering*. **9** (3): 21–29. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2007CSE.....9c..21P](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007CSE.....9c..21P). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1109/MCSE.2007.53](https://doi.org/10.1109%2FMCSE.2007.53). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1521-9615](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1521-9615).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [IPython documentation on interactive computing](http://ipython.org/ipython-doc/stable/interactive/reference.html#gui-event-loop-support)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [School of Interactive Computing official webpage](http://www.ic.gatech.edu/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Tangible Media Group official webpage](http://tangible.media.mit.edu/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Interactive computing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_computing) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_computing?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.