Type: In this phase we need to define the interaction’s type. This could be Direct or Indirect: In the direct one, the user interacts without medium with the organism and picks up its answer without amplifiers and sensors. In indirect interaction, on the contrary, the user’s input or the organism’s response are mediated by electronic components.
 

Input: In order for the interaction to arise, the organism must receive input from the user or the surrounding environment. This mechanism is the same that triggers the human-computer interaction, but in this case, the inputs are of only three types: visual, sound or haptic. On the other hand, when interacting with a living organism, the inputs to which it responds can be different: chemical, luminous, thermal, electrical, acoustic, magnetic or mechanical (pressure, stretching, oscillatory, vibratory or rotatory movements). Therefore, it is, necessary to understand if the organism reacts to one or more stimuli and how it responds.
 

Output: The output is the response that the organism generates to the input provided. A critical feature to consider when designing with living organisms is their communication mode in response to certain stimuli. After understanding which stimulus or stimuli the organism responds to, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the response type. It can be of different types: chemical, luminous, mechanical, electrical, acoustic, magnetic, thermal, cromatic, olfactory, enzymatic or morphological.
 

Input specifics: The input given by the user could have different specifics: Periodical if the action occurs at intervals or Continuative if the organism needs to be stimulated with no interruption. Finally, we need to consider also the input intensity necessary to generate the response; this could be light, medium or strong.