nonputt

Nonputt, sometimes stylized as nonPutt, is a design concept introduced in the late 1990s that seeks to eliminate the need for physical or graphical “put” elements in user interfaces and ergonomic products. The term originated within the human–computer interaction community and was first detailed in a 1999 paper by design theorist Dr. Elaine Foster of the Interaction Design Institute.

The core idea behind nonputt is that interfaces should present information and functionality without requiring the user to perform an explicit “put” action, such as dragging a file into a folder or pressing a button to trigger a function. Instead, nonputt designs rely on context‑sensitive cues, adaptive layouts, and predictive algorithms that resolve user intent before a conventional input is necessary. For example, a nonputt web form might auto‑populate fields based on a user’s browsing history and then reveal a single “Confirm” button rather than multiple keystrokes.

In the field of ergonomic product design, nonputt has been applied to furniture, such as chairs and desks that automatically adjust to a user’s preferred posture without manual setting. These systems use sensors and machine learning to detect movement patterns and reconfigure the seating accordingly.

Critics of nonputt argue that the approach can obscure transparency, making it harder for users to understand how a system is making decisions. Proponents counter that it reduces cognitive load and enhances speed of interaction. Current research is exploring extensions of the concept in autonomous vehicle interfaces and augmented reality systems, where predictive input could streamline user experience.