This post describes the first week of phyisical computation, it contains a mindmap containing different types of concepts related to electricity, a recap on two interaction design texts and a reflection of how some of the new populistic movements are inspired by forms of physical computation.
Electricity
It’s been a while since I’ve been in high school. So although most electricity concepts are somewhat vaguely familiar, I still thought it was best to make some kind of mindmap around it. I should probably print it and hang it above my bed.
Interaction Design
This week we’ve been reading the first two chapters of The Art of Interactive Design by Chris Crawford and A brief rant on the Future of Interaction Design by Bret Victor.
A quick recap on Crawford (chapter 1 and 2)
According to Crawford interactivity isn’t a boolean, it’s not a black and white thing, but there are rather degrees of interactivity. In interactivity there are always two actors. Just responding to a physical object, even if it’s a really mind blowing book, isn’t interactivity.
Interactivity is like a conversation. You are listening, thinking and speaking. Everything is in balance. No step can be skipped or underperforming.
Interactivity has existed for millions of years, it’s just that automated interactivity is a new thing. It’s superior to any other form of human expression: ”[..] interactivity wraps it’s tentacles around our mind and doesn’t let go”.
Crawford shows himself as a real apostle for interactivity. In a somewhat dated argument Crawford tells that it’s the interactivity that sets the personal computer apart from any other medium (as the quality of a VHS is superior to that of an early 2000’s avi compression).
What caused the computer revolution in the 80’s is interactivity. Computers existed way before then, but they we’re clunky and unaccesible. The most important part in that revolution is software and the interactivty that empowers users.
An even quicker recap on Victor
In A brief rant on the Future of Interaction Design, Bret Victor writes about the limited imagination of how our future interfaces look like in our popular culture. These visions often show the future with interfaces that are still very flat and screen-like. It’s a vision wherin the future only show a small increase of the current status quo.
According to Victor a tool addresses the human needs by amplifying human capabilities. There are only a couple of object where a interaction with a flat surface is desirable (for instance turning a paper).
In all the other interfaces an interaction with a real 3d object is much more desirable. Interaction with a 3d object truly uses all the capabilities of the human body.
The interaction we have with real physical objects eventually come down to four fundamental grips: A power grip (fingers vs palm), a precision grip (fingers vs thumb), a hook grip (between phalanges) and a scissor grip (between fingers)