Intelligent systems in UI/UX, AI and the interfaces of the future: what Pradipta Biswas’ new book reveals about interaction design
The world of UI/UX design is going through a major transformation, driven by the combination of Artificial Intelligence, immersive interfaces and new forms of Human-Computer Interaction. Instead of just talking about color, typography and screen flow, the conversation now involves AI models, adaptive systems, extended reality and even spacecraft simulations. And that is exactly the landscape that researcher Pradipta Biswas, a Gates Cambridge Scholar, brings into the spotlight in his new book.
The book, published by Taylor & Francis under the title Intelligent User Interface: Usable Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence for Usability, has a very clear mission: to demystify the latest advances in UI/UX and AI for the people who design and manage digital products, without requiring them to dive deep into math or heavy machine learning theory. Instead, the book shows, in practice, how to integrate intelligent algorithms into interfaces used in the real world.
Throughout the chapters, Biswas connects interface design, human factors, computer vision, language models, extended reality (XR) and usability, always with concrete examples, diagrams, lists of quick facts and even project suggestions for students and early-career researchers.
What the book covers: from the cockpit to extended reality
Pradipta Biswas’ book is structured around a central theme: intelligent interfaces that understand, predict and adapt to the user. To do that, it mixes accessible theory with a series of case studies in very different domains that share one key point: all of them depend on well-designed human-machine interaction.
Some of the main topics covered include:
- Modern AI and machine learning models, including recent architectures used in computer vision and in large language models (LLMs);
- Intelligent interfaces for XR systems, spanning virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality, with heavy use of sensors and tracking;
- Human-robot interaction, showing how to design interfaces to control robots and drones safely and intuitively;
- Cockpit design and safety-critical systems, where UI/UX, ergonomics and AI intersect in high-responsibility contexts;
- Trajectory prediction, essential for autonomous navigation and motion planning in environments shared with humans;
- Standards, norms and guidelines applicable to UI/UX, accessibility and interaction in advanced systems;
- Setting up intelligent interaction labs, with recommendations on equipment for research with robots, drones and XR;
- Usability evaluation techniques applied to AI-driven interfaces and immersive experiences.
Instead of treating each of these aspects in isolation, the book shows how they connect in real projects, especially when you have interfaces that need to make decisions with AI support and still keep humans in control.
AI applied to interface design: computer vision, LLMs and trajectory prediction
One of the highlights of the book is the straightforward way it explains the role of state-of-the-art AI models in the interface design process. Biswas does not stay at the surface: he discusses, for example, vision transformers, LLM-based interfaces for controlling robots, and systems that run virtual reality simulations for complex scenarios such as training for space operations.
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One of the core concepts is trajectory prediction. Put simply, it is about predicting, over time, the future positions of agents such as vehicles, pedestrians or robots. This kind of prediction is critical for:
- autonomous vehicles, which need to anticipate the movements of other cars, cyclists and pedestrians to avoid collisions;
- drones and mobile robots, which must plan safe paths through shared spaces;
- cockpit systems, where visualizing predicted trajectories helps pilots make faster and safer decisions.
The book shows how AI models that perform this type of prediction need a well-designed UI/UX layer: it is not enough for the algorithm to be accurate, you have to translate the model output into visual elements and interactions that users can quickly understand, without cognitive overload.
On top of that, the book explores how LLMs can act as an interface layer between humans and machines. Instead of rigid control panels full of buttons, it is possible to create conversational interfaces for robots or complex systems, where users describe goals and constraints in natural language. The design challenge here is to ensure clarity, feedback and predictability even in interactions mediated by probabilistic models.
XR, augmented reality and new interaction formats
Another major pillar of the book is the XR universe — an umbrella term covering virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). Biswas frames these systems as digital tools that enable users to interact with virtual and hybrid environments using headsets, smart glasses and other advanced devices.
In this type of interface, the design challenge goes way beyond layout:
- You have to map the physical space to place digital elements in ways that are safe and legible;
- The system must interpret gestures, head movements and gaze direction in real time;
- The interface needs to constantly adapt to the context, such as lighting conditions, movement speed and the user’s focus of attention.
The book shows how Artificial Intelligence becomes a key part of this equation, powering:
- precise tracking of objects and people in the environment;
- intention recognition, by observing patterns of movement and interaction;
- dynamic interface adaptation, reducing or enriching content depending on the situation.
Biswas also discusses the practical requirements for building a lab focused on intelligent XR, robot and drone interfaces. He goes over the types of equipment needed, from sensors and tracking devices to development platforms, which helps bring the topic closer to teams planning to experiment with these scenarios in universities or research centers.
Standards, usability and human factors in intelligent systems
Even though it deals with cutting-edge technologies, the book does not let go of the classic foundations of user-centered design. An entire section is dedicated to human factors, usability evaluation and international standards relevant to UI/UX and accessibility.
Topics include:
- how to design layouts that respect cognitive and perceptual limits in high information-load contexts;
- methods for evaluating interfaces, including user testing, objective performance metrics and error analysis;
- standards and guidelines related to interaction with multimedia systems, smart TV and audiovisual accessibility, areas where Biswas has worked in groups within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU);
- best practices for visual, auditory and haptic feedback in AI-powered interfaces, where users need to know when the machine is uncertain, when there is risk and when automation has made a significant decision.
A distinctive element of the book is that it does not just list recommendations: each chapter brings graphic illustrations and quick fact lists to reinforce key concepts, plus project ideas that can be prototyped by students and early-stage researchers.
Who is Pradipta Biswas and why his work matters for UI/UX and AI
The book carries even more weight when you look at Pradipta Biswas’ background. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Design and Manufacturing at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), one of India’s most respected research institutions, and also serves as associate faculty at the Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber Physical Systems, focused on cyber-physical systems.
Beyond academia, Biswas has played a key role in international standards organizations. He was elected vice-chairman of the ITU Study Group 9 and served as Co-Chair in groups related to audiovisual media accessibility and Smart TV within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This means that much of what he brings to the book is connected to real-world discussions about standards, interoperability and accessibility at a global scale.
Biswas’ connection with human-computer interaction goes way back. During his PhD in Computer Science at Cambridge, he studied:
- visual and auditory perception in interaction with digital systems;
- fast pointing movements, important for interfaces based on touch, mouse and alternative input devices;
- problem-solving strategies in human-machine interaction contexts.
In that period, he also developed new algorithms for eye-tracking technology and filed patents, including an interactive Head-Up Display controlled by gaze and gestures. This combination of research in human perception, algorithms and physical prototypes is one of the reasons the book treats AI and UI/UX in such an integrated way.
From Cambridge to the Indian space program: real-world applications
After finishing his studies at Cambridge, Biswas returned to India and kept expanding his work with eye tracking and advanced interfaces, in partnership with strategic institutions.
Some of the key projects mentioned in his biography include:
- collaboration with the Indian Air Force on eye-tracking technologies and interfaces for pilots;
- leading the design of a virtual reality cockpit for India’s first crewed space mission, using VR to simulate scenarios and train critical interactions;
- participation as one of the five Indian researchers selected for a study on human-machine interaction aboard the International Space Station during the Axiom 4 mission;
- running a toy hackathon focused on helping children with severe disabilities communicate using eye-controlled interfaces.
These examples show that the book’s content is not stuck in theory. Many of the ideas discussed in the chapters on human factors, XR and intelligent interfaces have been tested in highly demanding environments such as aviation, space and accessibility.
Target audience: who will benefit the most from the book
Even though it covers advanced topics, the book is not aimed only at highly specialized researchers. It was designed for a broad audience within the tech and product ecosystem, including:
- engineering and design students who want an accessible understanding of how AI and UI/UX intersect in practice;
- professors and researchers in areas such as human-computer interaction, robotics, computer vision and user experience;
- interface and experience designers looking to update their toolkit without having to dig through overly technical texts;
- product managers interested in assessing AI and intelligent system opportunities in new products;
- software and systems engineers working on projects involving XR, robotics, autonomous vehicles or accessibility applications.
One important aspect is that the book avoids excessive abstract theory. Instead, Biswas emphasizes straightforward explanations, real-world cases and references to software that can be downloaded for free for experimentation. This brings the content closer to those who want to apply AI and intelligent interfaces in day-to-day projects without getting lost in academic formalism.
Why this kind of work matters for the future of interaction design
The picture that emerges throughout the book is a world where UI/UX design is increasingly tied to engineering, data science and robotics. Instead of working in isolation, designers become a bridge between human factors, AI models and system requirements, especially in environments where safety, accessibility and transparency are essential.
By bringing together in a single volume topics such as LLMs, vision transformers, XR, usability testing, international standards and space projects, Biswas builds a broad view of how intelligent interfaces should evolve. The overarching message is clear: the intelligence is not only in the algorithms, but also in how we present and control that intelligence through the interface.
For anyone closely following applied AI, the book works like a map: it shows where the latest technologies are already being used, what the main interaction challenges are, and where there is still room for research, innovation and product development focused on usability and real-world impact on people’s lives.
