Skip to content
Sahn-ı BA; The Courtyard of Basmalah
TREN
SAHN.BA

BA Internet Principle · 04

An interface is a threshold of attention and representation.

What appears first, what remains hidden, which actions become easy and which option is selected by default all shape what people see and how they decide.

Visibility · Ranking · Defaults · Attention · Appeal

Core principle

An interface does more than display: it selects, ranks and guides.

Interface decisions are therefore questions of representation and EDEB, not only visual taste. Attention is not exploited, choices are not hidden and defaults are not set against the person using the system.

Every interface carries an understanding of people and knowledge.

A useful distinction

A screen is a surface; an interface organises behaviour and representation.

01

A narrow reading

Visual surface

  • Colour and typography
  • Buttons and menus
  • Pages and components
  • Screen size
02

BA Internet

Order of representation

  • What becomes visible
  • What comes first
  • Which behaviour is encouraged
  • Who can decide and object

Interface record

Explain decisions about visibility and attention before release.

  • Default choiceIs there an option people accept without noticing?
  • Reason for rankingBy what measure does content move forward or fall behind?
  • Cost to attentionDo notifications, endless feeds or reward loops create dependency?
  • Clear objectionCan people turn off a recommendation or change the order?
  • Protection for childrenAre language, duration and guidance appropriate to age?
  • Representation statementAre generated, recommended and editorial materials clearly distinguished?

Related BA Internet principles

The interface principle works together with people, data, models and privacy.