Martin A. Siegel

Slow change interaction design

A theoretical sketch exploring the mindsets required for creating interactive technologies that facilitate attitudinal and behavioral change over time.

Device ecology mapper: a tool for studying users' ecosystems of interactive artifacts

This paper presents a tool for both researchers and designers called the Device Ecology Mapper, which allows users to share devices they own and describe to researchers how they believe these devices are connected. We built this tool from the theoretical perspective of ecology of artifacts in which designed artifacts do not exist independently, but rather in complex ecosystems with other artifacts through physical and perceptual connections. We designed the evaluations of this tool to evaluate the extent to which designers found the tool valuable and users found the tool true to the way they understand their ecology of interactive artifacts-rather than how closely users perception of their ecology represents how these devices are actually connected. We found evidence for both perspectives from these studies.

Rhetorical evaluation of user interfaces

This paper introduces an approach for evaluating user interfaces built on visual rhetoric and the rhetorical notion of function. A personal informatics mobile application has been selected to exemplify the application of this approach. Through the results of this example evaluation, this paper discusses the consequence of applying a rhetorical evaluation to a user interface. In this discussion, it is observed that inspecting the function performed by interface components takes into account experiences, communication, and meaning. In addition, it fosters reflection and criticism.

The Panda Hat of Doom

Upon finishing an internship or degree in design, novice designers face a challenging professional world. Design schools often prepare novices for the types of projects they will face, but preparing them for the professional realities they will face is often left to the company that hires them. One way we can prepare designers for the challenges they will face as professionals is by simulating professional presentations that go wrong. In this case study, we will examine one particular pedagogical tool designed for this purpose: The Panda Hat of Doom.