Acts of interfacing in an entangled life

Digital interfaces are becoming increasingly simple and intuitive. However, beneath the surface, the technological infrastructures underlying these interfaces are growing more complex and elusive. This paper draws on theories from human-com- puter interaction, software studies, and social practice to revisit the notion of the in- terface as a site of representation and control. By briefly tracing the historical devel- opment of digital interfaces, we propose to shift from ideas of representation and con- trol towards a notion of co-performance and negotiation. Through this lens, we recon- ceptualize the interface as acts of interfacing—a new concept that captures the con- tested, constructive, and performative character of interaction within large-scale digi- tal systems.