---
key: mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t309
type: mechanic
id: spatial-interfaces--t309
lang: en
title: 'Text input, commands and conversational interfaces'
summary: >-
  A typed or spoken request specifies an action through command meaning. The
  system clarifies parameters and reports what it executed.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t309/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t309.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t309.md
aliases:
  - 'Text, commands and conversation'
tags:
  - Spatial and alternative interfaces
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-c0d794b8cc9728f2
  - source-3909cb777273dcb9
sources:
  - id: source-c0d794b8cc9728f2
    title: Inform 7
    url: 'https://github.com/ganelson/inform'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-3909cb777273dcb9
    title: Siri (iOS 5)
    url: >-
      https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/ma1622_iphone_ios5_user_guide.pdf#page=53
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: spatial-interfaces
    id: t309
    title: Spatial and alternative interfaces
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/spatial-interfaces/#t309'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Text, commands and conversation'
    description: >-
      A typed or spoken request specifies an action through command meaning. The
      system clarifies parameters and reports what it executed.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/sensor-siri-ios5-timer.webp
      width: 320
      height: 480
      game: Siri (iOS 5)
      sourceUrl: >-
        https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/ma1622_iphone_ios5_user_guide.pdf#page=53
      originalUrl: >-
        https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/ma1622_iphone_ios5_user_guide.pdf
      credit: Apple Inc.
      rights: >-
        © Apple Inc. Historical iOS 5 user-guide screenshot, printed page 53.
        Used to illustrate the voice-command interaction, not a current
        interface. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: 'Siri: a spoken command starts a timer; historical iOS 5 interface'
      alt: 'Siri: a spoken command starts a timer; historical iOS 5 interface'
      markers:
        - x: 50
          'y': 40
          label: The running timer confirms execution of the recognized request
    tips:
      - Separate request entry from confirmation and execution.
    examples:
      - title: Siri (iOS 5)
        url: >-
          https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/ma1622_iphone_ios5_user_guide.pdf#page=53
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/spatial-interfaces
---
# Text input, commands and conversational interfaces

id: spatial-interfaces--t309
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t309
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/spatial-interfaces--t309/

A typed or spoken request specifies an action through command meaning. The system clarifies parameters and reports what it executed.

## At a glance

![Siri: a spoken command starts a timer; historical iOS 5 interface](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/sensor-siri-ios5-timer.webp)

[Siri (iOS 5)](https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/ma1622_iphone_ios5_user_guide.pdf#page=53) · © Apple Inc. Historical iOS 5 user-guide screenshot, printed page 53. Used to illustrate the voice-command interaction, not a current interface. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. The running timer confirms execution of the recognized request

- Separate request entry from confirmation and execution.

- [Siri (iOS 5)](https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/ma1622_iphone_ios5_user_guide.pdf#page=53)

## How it works

Command interfaces translate text or speech into constrained actions and expose interpreted intent and execution results.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t309-variants"></a>

- Grammars define supported verbs and objects. <a id="t309-v1"></a>
- Clarification resolves ambiguous target names. <a id="t309-v2"></a>
- Confirmation separates recognition from important actions. <a id="t309-v3"></a>
- History permits repeating or correcting a command. <a id="t309-v4"></a>

## Design example

“open the airlock” requests a choice between two airlocks instead of randomly executing one interpretation.

Prototype check: Test unknown commands and misinterpretations; free wording should not hide actual action limits.

## Context and limits

Spatial and specialized input requires calibration, clear action confirmation and a way to continue after signal loss. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [Inform 7](https://github.com/ganelson/inform) (id: source-c0d794b8cc9728f2)
- [Siri (iOS 5)](https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/ma1622_iphone_ios5_user_guide.pdf#page=53) (id: source-3909cb777273dcb9)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors