We are excited to share with you the 2024 Edition of the Simple Interactions Tool (the fourth iteration in just over 12 years)! Since its origin as stick figures on a notepad, the tool we use to notice and describe the interactions has slowly evolved in response to the many conversations we have with professionals and communities we encounter. Consistent with the spirit of our work, this latest iteration updates some of the language to make the tool more “open-ended”. The 10-minute video below offers a brief history of the tool and explains the small but important updates.

Based on several years of feedback and month-long discussions among colleagues across two continents, we are updating the text definition of all four dimensions. The 2019 version defined each dimension with text that aligned closely with just the “Z” mode. It implied that Z is “better” than X and Y, whereas our intent was always to allow the observer to discover which mode is appropriate for a particular context and situation.

The new descriptions embody a more neutral tone.

For example:

2019 - Connection: Interacting with mutually positive or appropriate emotions

2024 - Connection: States of mutual emotion during interactions

We also made minor edits to the text describing some of X, Y, Z modes to make it less evaluative by default.

For example:

2019 - Inclusion X: excluded

2024 - Inclusion X: not included

2019 - Reciprocity Y: one-sided control with compliance or engagement

2024 - Reciprocity Y: one-sided direction with compliance or engagement

The video describes some of the other small tweaks we made while keeping the tool simple, accessible, and open to interpretation and adaptation.