emotional design

One Day, This Will All Make Sense

September 28, 2013 by michellechandra in Creative Process, Physical Computing

I think it’s interesting how our emotional state affects our abilities and perception of reality. While Norman’s “Emotional Design” focuses on how our emotional state affects our ability to use products, all I could think about after reading the first chapter is how our emotional state affects our ability to be creative and generate ideas.

Norman explains that creative thinking requires being in a positive mood in order to make connections across ideas and space. A positive frame of mind broadens one’s thought processes, allowing one’s thoughts to follow many paths and tangents.

Creativity (and the act of generating ideas!), at least for myself, requires that I be willing to be silly and playful. When I walk around taking photos, I know I probably look strange because 99% of the time I am learning over a wall photographing some mundane water fountain for an hour. I generally figure I am on the right track if no one else follows suit. → Read more

What is Physical Interaction?

September 14, 2013 by michellechandra in Physical Computing

What defines physical interaction, and what makes for good physical interactive experiences? In The Art of Interactive Design, Chris Crawford defines interaction as a conversation with two actors who “listen, think and speak.” Physical interaction involves a give and take, and is not simply a reaction (for example, a viewer watching a movie) or participation (a couple dancing).

In “A Brief Rant on the Future of Interaction Design,” Bret Victor defines physical interaction in opposition to this video (produced by Microsoft) that envisions a future in which perfect happy people living in sterile environments (a la Ikea) passively swipe screens to interact with each other. Throughout the video, every need and desire is met in a homogenized manner – apparently, things don’t go wrong, and chaos does not exist.

Victor defines tools as objects that amplify human capabilities. He outlines the many capabilities of the human hand, and questions a future in which tactility is left behind for tools that are “Pictures Under Glass” and involve minimal human interaction (largely, swiping a screen). To Victor, this future fails to take advantage of the myriad capabilities of the human hand. → Read more

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