Aghillo

When one thinks of traditional interaction with computing technology the vision that tends to be immediately conjured-up is that of a typical personal computer. A box containing all the essential digital technologies such as processor, memory and hard disk; a graphical screen for display, the visual output, perhaps speakers for audio output; for input the traditional image is that of keyboard and mouse. Interaction takes place though key presses, through button presses using the mouse, and output takes place through the screen and speakers as previously mentioned.
However, interactions do not need to be like that. In the world of tangible interaction effort has been made to connect digital data with physical representations so that control of any underlying data is effected through direct manipulation of physical objects. It is a world where computer scientist meets product designer; where artists meet robotics experts. This is an area where cross-disciplinary skills will be required in abundance.
This need to work across discipline boundaries, to integrate different skills, is highlighted in [Baskinger & Gross 2010] where the authors point out that ‘Tangible interaction practitioners, researchers, and educators integrate knowledge from many areas. They draw upon traditional design, engineering, computing, and robotics in a mashup of skills and methods—thinking and making in physical form, electronics, and code’. This phrase is particularly noteworthy as it identifies the types of skills, working practices and perhaps challenges that are sure to emerge as a possible new discipline takes shape.

The Hit Me Interactive Lamp was designed by Carnegie Mellon students Henry Julier, Justin Rheinfrank, Amanda Ip, and Michael Cruz-Restrepo. It responds directly to different touches. If finger tips are pressed on the lamp then this is reflected through individual leds lighting up and a corresponding pattern appearing. If the palm of a hand is placed over the lamp then it responds with a diffuse glow. The lamp also responds to the length of time it is touched – so quick touches result in lights flashing, prolonged touching ensures the lamp stays on.

These paper robots were designed by Greg Saul from Carnegie Mellon and Victoria University of Wellington. They make use of special materials called ‘Shape-Memory-Alloys’ for actuators, gold leaf printed circuits and embedded microchips for intelligence and can be programmed to respond to light, sound or on-line chat. Their designer was interested in ‘using new technologies, materials and information channels to create systems instead of designs or perhaps more accurately designs that are a dialogue between the user and the designer with computer program as mediation’.

These examples are interesting and embody, in simple ways, the types of knowledge and skills that are required in this area.