Can computers design interaction?

Algorithms have revolutionized almost every field of manufacturing and engineering. Is interaction design the next? This talk gives an overview of what future holds for optimization methods in interaction design. I introduce the idea of using predictive models and simulations of end-user behavior in combinatorial optimization of user interfaces. I demonstrate it with an interactive layout optimizer and provide an overview of research results. I tell about the models we use, the limitations of this approach, how it fits the HCI engineering cycle, and how we validate and verify this approach. To conclude, I provoke a critical discussion on the potentials and pitfalls of this approach.