Interface theory

Interface theory, or the interface theory of perception, proposes that our senses don’t show us objective reality but instead present a simplified “user interface” shaped by evolution to guide adaptive behavior for survival and reproduction. This means that what we perceive as objects, space, and time are just icons, like on a computer desktop, that hide the more complex underlying reality to make it easier for us to navigate and survive. For example, the icon for an email on a computer isn’t the email itself, but a user-friendly shortcut.
Core concepts

Perception as a user interface: Our senses (sight, touch, taste, etc.) act as a user interface that simplifies a complex reality into a species-specific set of icons.
Evolutionary selection: Natural selection has favored perceptions that promote survival and reproduction, not those that are accurate representations of reality. Mathematical analysis suggests that evolutionary processes are more likely to favor accurate icons that guide useful action over icons that reveal the truth of reality.
Hidden reality: The “truth” of reality is hidden from us by this perceptual interface. For instance, the real mechanism behind a tennis racquet hitting a ball is not the icons of a racquet and ball, but hidden, underlying physical processes.
Space and time: According to this theory, space-time itself could be a part of this interface, and the physical objects we perceive are rendered “on the fly” as part of our experience. Implications and analogies
The desktop analogy: A computer’s graphical user interface (GUI) is a common analogy. The icons (trash can, folders) are useful shortcuts, but they don’t resemble the actual code and electrical currents that make the computer work.
Shared experience: Just as two people in a virtual reality game each have their own rendered version of a tennis ball in their own headset, interface theory suggests that even when we perceive the same object, we are each experiencing our own customized version of it.
Challenging realism: This theory directly challenges critical realism, the common-sense view that our senses provide a somewhat accurate (though imperfect) representation of reality. Interface theory argues that even primary qualities like “height” and “weight” are just icons, not necessarily reflections of reality.