Introduction to interaction design

The first workshop exercise required us in small groups to come up with five different materials and list out methods to utalise each material as input and output interfaces to communicate ten different messages. As the final design criteria for this subject requires us to design an interaction interface for a social context our team of three kept the messages purely arbitrary with phrases like: ‘What are you doing tonight?’ and ‘Can I come over?’.

The team came up with a few simple material input-output methods before quickly moving onto brainstorming various design concepts for different contexts within a social network.

One interesting idea from Patrick was a pair of pendulums for two users wishing to communicate with each other. Each user would have one of the identical pendulums which have a series of messages arranged as pie shapes on a circular base that the pendulum, if tilted the right way, can point to. The two pendulums mimic each other via some sort of wireless system connected to step motors in the base so both users can interact with the messages at any given time.

Another idea helped along by a tutor Tim, was the virtual handshake experience. We discussed observations regarding giving and receiving handshakes and the importance the handshake has on social interactions, particularly when you meet someone for the first time. From these observations spawned the concept of the handshake booth, where a user could give a virtual handshake to another user anywhere in the world and receive the same pressure and style of shake on their hand as though they were shaking the users hand in person. This was a purely conceptual idea and to construct a prototype would mean all sorts of restrictions on ability, and also technology availability that would be needed for the final design.

Staying on this subject, I endeavor not to restrict what designs I put on this blog. I intend to communicate a variety of design ideas, concepts, thoughts, etc. no matter how comical or fantastical they may seem, for I believe the most simple and thoughtful solutions can be inspired by absolutely anything around us.