Interactions you Already Know

G11 5

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Abstract

Research into human-computer interaction is on-going all over the world and is increasingly important as computers become further entrenched in our everyday experiences. Will the news soon be recited by our coffee makers, and our t-shirt be able to act as a GPS to guide us to our destinations? What are the basic needs and wants of users and how can we design smart artifacts that will better address these needs and in so doing, create intuitive interactions between humans and computers? I propose that the most effective way to approach this problem is to examine the problems’ essential parts in an attempt to create new and better solutions. As a result of recent innovations in open source software and hardware such as the Arduino micro-controller and an array of input and output devices, it is possible for a design researcher to make use of these small computers to create and test interactions. This paper will examine the development of interactive solutions from the ground up, from the creation of a multi-disciplinary interactives class that introduced students to this technology for the first time to the design and creation of artifacts that communicate with humans using natural, intuitive means.