For this project, the job was to create a course where
we can investigate the diverse way people interact and move
through their environments. We wanted to explore the diversity
of environment spaces that are created for people to live
in, work in, find information in, and play in. And most importantly,
we looked at ways to investigate how we can bridge the digital
and physical divide by embedding digital objects into our
everyday environments. Each lecture was to cover a particular
type of environment, such as living rooms or kitchens. In
each of these, the students are challenged with a fun activity
of creating a digital solution to a possible problem that
occurs in one of these environments. They are free to use
their imagination to best bridge the digital-physical divide.
My role on the project was
to manage the 4 person group so that over the course of 10
weeks we could create an introductory class that accomplished
the original goals. In addition to managing the group, I gathered
content and pictures that would fill in the lectures. This
gathering of content led me to many interesting websites whereby
I read much about designing different types of environments
as well as new products that will change the way we live and
interact with our environments.
Below you will find short
descriptions of each of the 10 lectures along with a picture
from that lecture.
Future Environments
In this lecture we introduce the concepts
of digital supports in environments that exist currently.
We look at wearables such as a gps locator watch. We then
look at tools for your home such as an automatic vacuum cleaner.
Lastly we investigate the tools for your work, such as an
interactive desk. Each of these three topics introduces the
students to the ideas behind digital supports.
| In Minority
Report we see an idea of the future- gesture based interfaces. |
Augmented Reality
The ultimate goal is to create a system
such that the user can not tell the difference between the
real world and the virtual augmentation of it. To the user
of this ultimate system it would appear that he is looking
at a single real scene.
 |
| Augmented Reality
(AR) is a growing area in virtual reality research.
The world environment around us provides a wealth
of information that is difficult to duplicate in
a computer. In all those applications the augmented
reality presented to the user enhances that person's
performance in and perception of the world. |
|
| Wearable
Computing: Interactive Tour of Columbia |
|
| Projecting information
about the outside world on your windshield while you are
driving. |
Ubiquitous
Computing and Context Aware Computing
In this lecture we will explore how we can take full advantage
of raw computer processing power by moving beyond the desktop
computer that we have become accustomed to. Instead of working
within the computer's world we must move the computer into
our world. This is the basic principle of Ubiquitous Computing.
The physical and social situation forms the context. Context
Aware Computing is thus when digital systems provide appropriate
reactions according to a user's context (ex: time, place,
personal preference, events, etc).
| RFID's use radio
frequency signals for tracking. They have a plethora of
uses: tagging baggage to prevent losses, conducting transactions
without cash or coins, rapidly scanning mass inventory,
and alerting employees when item stock is low. What makes
RFID's a particularly attractive technology is its diminutive
size. |
Living
Rooms
The living room is not an activty specific room such as a
kitchen or a bathroom. People partake in all kinds of activities
in a living room. Some of these many activities include sleeping
on couches, watching television, playing video games, as well
as talking to each other.
Kitchens
Kitchens are not limited to just preparing
and cooking food. Refrigerators store and preserve food, dishwashers
clean and store dishes, and tables allow people to socialize
and eat food. Although the main function of a kitchen is to
prepare food, much of the possible digital supports of a kitchen
do not have to involve cooking food.
Office
and Work Environments
A company's culture is evident from its workplace setup. Its
exterior often brands the company for outsiders to see and
for employees to feel like a member of a collective whole.
Personal workspaces can be private or open. Hallways are often
places for collaboration.
It is no secret that people
have different working styles. We will examine the impact
of diverse styles on both an office's social atmosphere and
setup.
| On open work
space that encourgages collaboration. |
Meeting
Rooms
How can we design environments to encourage collaboration?
What steps can we take to ensure that collaboration is productive
and efficient? We will take a look at different types of meeting
spaces and think about some of the ways we can use digital
supports to make collaboration more effective.
| We examine SteelCase's
RoomWizard, one solution to room reservation hassles and
meeting interruptions. |
Bedrooms
and Bathrooms
People spend so much time in their bedrooms and bathrooms
sleeping or enjoying relaxing activities, yet much of the
digital supports focus on living rooms, offices, and kitchens.
The bedroom and bathroom can be very private and intimate
places. In this lecture we will take a look at many luxury
bedrooms and bathrooms as well as some bedrooms and bathrooms
from different cultures.
Entertainment
Venues
We pay to be entertained. People want their experiences to
be worth their money. In this lecture we look at how amusement
parks, Las Vegas, and home theater environments act as entertainment
venues.
Navigation
and Entry Points
What cues aid navigation? We examine different navigation
cues and what makes entrances attractive and appealling.
|
Web Design
