Considering Interactive Product Futures

Considering Interactive Product Futures:

What I would like to contribute to this developing subject area is to bring a more holistic approach to the teaching and learning of design and technology. That combines experimentation with certain technologies or platforms, with a general approach across art and design informed by a variety of other subjects.

I am currently intrigued about what might be called the third phase of interaction design; after firstly the origins in HCI and the for example the adoption of the GUI, in personal computing, and secondly the adoption of the model of usability and user-centered design, or more specifically user experience, that had extended into service, interface and product design. I would say that this was exemplified by the work done at Interaction Design Institute Ivrea (IDII) and previously crd.rca, which had reached a pinnacle, but left a wealth of projects, methods, and (my favourite) tools – that we can continue to learn from. So, to the third phase which I think that we have already entered, where interaction design shouldn't perhaps be seen as separate subject, but one that is embedded in various fields of design, and outcomes in objects, environments, and services. That it relates more and more to ubiquitous or pervasive computing (rather than desktop computing) would be key, and that the interactions that are happening are not purely woman to machine, but far more dispersed in the Internet, the environment, the communications media, and the everyday life.
I think that it is here is where Design courses have an opportunity to develop these synergies between the current three course areas in products, environments and interaction. I would like to give three example contexts and how I feel that they could be developed.

1) Fabrication and digital prototyping
2) Wearables and mobile devices
3) Intelligent and responsive environments

1) Fabrication and micro-prototyping would be a future (or present) way of looking at methods and processes for making. It would be a way of combining physical computing, that is a way of being able to produce working prototypes using micro controllers and electronics by way of toolkits such as Arduino, with rapid-prototyping methods for creating models or surfaces. The current process of rapid-prototyping machines are restricted by size and still high cost, but the idea of personal fabrication, and a machine to do it is not far off. I think that this would be very much in tune with the Ravensbourne mission of the creative ‘exploitation of digital technology’, and in terms of a production platform, is close to what is available currently. It would be an interesting practical approach to precedent study, or creating

2) I have researched into wearable computing and intelligent fashion; textiles and garments that have computing or electronics built in or interfaced into them. There have been a number of key publications, and some products brought to market, but it is still the emerging days of this field. However apart form the aesthetic and technophile aspect of this field, I think it has great relevance to fields such as Inclusive design that are growing and have a wider social context. Perhaps in the concept of the “Internet of Things” there is a link also.

3) Intelligent and responsive environments, such as interactive lighting, data driven wall or building displays might be the cross over between interaction, products and environments. Using wireless technologies that are much more accessible and cheaper, systems in a larger or wider space are easily achievable. Also newer technologies such as NFC (near field communication) a form of RFID that is set to be included in mobile handsets could be used to create interactions in urban environments that are responsive or creating intelligence for the built environment or media positioned in it.


Finally I would summarize again the concept of the holistic approach. Though I describe mostly from the technology, I think that themes and issues must also be addressed. So, topics such as sustainability, durability, usability could also be brought into consideration of interaction, environment as much as product.

I hope that these points might provide a discussion point or some questions. I would say I wrote it down in case I forgot to mention it. Its is mostly what I had been thinking about the when considering the futures for design courses, and the areas that I am interested in.

June 2007.