Jt Jelle Stienstra

Embodying complexity through movement sonification: case study on empowering the speed-skater

In this paper, we describe the Augmented Speed-skate Experience (ASE), a case of movement sonification in professional speed-skating. We designed and developed a system that provides feedback on technique to a professional speed-skater through an extra sense-modality, i.e. sound. Complexity is incorporated directly by the athlete and not through an external system that would feedback representational judgments of improving speed-skating technique. This research-through-design case explores the conditions for mapping information directly to the body. This is done by an evaluation on several sets of continuous parameter mappings in a field-lab setup. Results from this qualitative evaluations show that the movement sonification mappings cause inter-modal convergence, resulting in actual improvement. We designed a movement sonification mapping of speed-skating technique that is informative, motivating, non-coercive, robust and easy to apply. Feedback designed according to existing natural acoustic conventions inherently coupled to the speed-skaters actions, allows for complex information to be assessed and embodied by the athlete thus improving his skating technique.

Brush and learn: transforming tooth brushing behavior through interactive materiality, a design exploration

To counteract the increased tendency in skill learning addressing our cognitive abilities we discuss an opportunity on how performance skills can be trained by means of inherent feed forward through interactive materiality. We address this approach in the context of designing an interactive toothbrush that supports users in learning a complex brushing technique by relying solely on their perceptual motor skills. We discuss how we designed a natural coupling according to the Frogger framework in the action-perception loops with the interactive toothbrush. We evaluated the toothbrush in context. The experimental results indicate that complex movements can be learned by providing inherent feed forward on the actions of users in skill training. This supports our argument and vision that the design-inspired approach or interactive materiality may offer new opportunities for behavioral transformation.

There is more in a single touch: mapping the continuous to the discrete

In this paper, we present the Sensible Alternative, a concept that enables smart-phone users to navigate between applications by accessing action-possibility-depending and personalized-associated applications. A single added touch-sensitive spot on the back-side of the smart-phone provides an alternative layer of interaction between human and machine, on top of hierarchical system architectures. We designed and prototyped this interaction layer that exploits the advantage of the continuous and the discrete powers of man and machine. In our case study, we explore several consequences of a phenomenological approach for designing complex systems, products and related services. Here we present the research-through-design case and our reflections based on qualitative expert confrontations on the heuristics and experience of the use case, the Sensible Alternative. With this work we hope to inspire design thinking to shift from hierarchical, procedural and structured design mechanisms to embodied mechanisms when addressing complexity.

Embodying phenomenology in interaction design research

hroughout life, I have been taught to think by generalizing, ordering, discretizing, modeling, measuring, calculating, objectifying, structuring, and so forth. Educated in the Netherlands and trained as an industrial designer, I possess a skill set built profoundly upon these approaches. With them, I feel acquainted and comfortable; they form a solid basis for my being in the world. But ever since I was introduced to the writing of David Abram [1] and embraced by Kees Overbeeke, becoming enchanted by his Designing Quality in Interaction group and their approach [2] to design

The Affective Respiration Device

In this paper, we discuss the Affective Respiration Device, its rationale and elaborate a few lessons learned from our attempt to embed this technology in the flow of everyday life. The device captures the respiratory behaviour of its viewer and provides bio-feedback and feedforward that enables people to come to terms with their breathing and activity in an engaging manner. After briefly discussing the theory, related work, and the system design we provide a use-scenario to highlight the experiential consequences of using the affective device. We further reflect on few learning points derived from a walk-through. This work aims to inspire design-thinking for patient’s home monitoring to shift from the cognitive approach towards an embodied bio-feedback.

Re-Orientating Time in Product Design: A Phenomenology-inspired Perspective

This paper presents a work in progress design case that is used to exemplify how a phenomenology-inspired perspective on time can impact the design of highly interactive systems and products. The design presents a calendar with a re-orientated layout that is based on a bodily relationship with time, rather than on the more established linear chronological layout found in most products and systems. The presented design offers a promising perspective as well as emergent technical issues and questions. With this work we hope to inspire interaction designers to consider embodied mechanisms.