I am earmarking today as a day when my thesis changed slightly. By tracking these changes, I'll be able to see progression of the project from start to finish. A week or two ago, my thesis pertained more to the aspect of comfort and health. Now, the focus has shifted a couple of notches over towards object-human interaction. My current thesis reads:
"I am investigating the experience of comfort both mental and physical. I will do this by designing an interactive object that evolves for the user's health."
Currently, the end result of this project will be a programmed furniture piece with an integrated computer that interacts with the user, physically and/or aurally. Included in the piece will be a variety of behaviors that react to stimuli such as microphones or physical sensors activated by the user. For example, if the user were to sit on the furniture without declaring his or her intent, the furniture would resist, even going as far as to force the user from his or her seat. In this way, the user must communicate with the furniture. Likewise, the furniture will tell the user when it no longer wants to be sat upon, prompting the user to not stay seated constantly.
Sitting in one position for hours on end is extraordinarily detrimental to a person's health, and yet our culture considers sitting to be one of the highest forms of comfort. I want to reconstruct the notions, expectations, and experiences someone has when he or she wants to be comfortable. Does the user truly need to be seated? Should they be uncomfortable at some point during the experience in order to feel comfortable later? My hope is that the user will have to develop a relationship with the furniture in question, respecting its boundaries, and treating it less like a tool and more like a friend or pet. In this way, sitting down becomes a conscious action that involves an understanding between human and seat.
Such a project requires a wide scope of knowledge and research, ranging from computer-human interaction and programming to ergonomics and mechanics. The progression of learning and implementing skills that I have outlined begins with a simultaneous study of programming (with Python) and behaviors around interaction and sitting. From there, I will focus on scripting the experience and designing a form that best fits the needed interaction. From there, I will focus on construction and achieving the physical means by which the experience can take place.
Sitting in one position for hours on end is extraordinarily detrimental to a person's health, and yet our culture considers sitting to be one of the highest forms of comfort. I want to reconstruct the notions, expectations, and experiences someone has when he or she wants to be comfortable. Does the user truly need to be seated? Should they be uncomfortable at some point during the experience in order to feel comfortable later? My hope is that the user will have to develop a relationship with the furniture in question, respecting its boundaries, and treating it less like a tool and more like a friend or pet. In this way, sitting down becomes a conscious action that involves an understanding between human and seat.
Such a project requires a wide scope of knowledge and research, ranging from computer-human interaction and programming to ergonomics and mechanics. The progression of learning and implementing skills that I have outlined begins with a simultaneous study of programming (with Python) and behaviors around interaction and sitting. From there, I will focus on scripting the experience and designing a form that best fits the needed interaction. From there, I will focus on construction and achieving the physical means by which the experience can take place.
In other news, I have found the perfect theme song for the IP experience. If you happen to listen to any of this, listen to the whole thing. That way you can get an idea of the scope of the project.
CHECKLIST
Accomplished:
Part of finalized proposal
Working on:
Finalized proposal
Timeline
Resource searching
To do:
Grant proposal
Programming tests
Part of finalized proposal
Working on:
Finalized proposal
Timeline
Resource searching
To do:
Grant proposal
Programming tests