Sketching shape-changing interfaces: exploring vocabulary, metaphors use, and affordances

TY - GEN

T1 - Sketching shape-changing interfaces

T2 - 34th Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

AU - Rasmussen, Majken Kirkegård

AU - Troiano, Giovanni Maria

AU - Petersen, Marianne Graves

AU - Simonsen, Jakob Grue

AU - Hornbæk, Kasper

N1 - Conference code: 34

PY - 2016/5/7

Y1 - 2016/5/7

N2 - Shape-changing interfaces allow designers to create user interfaces that physically change shape. However, presently, we lack studies of how such interfaces are designed, as well as what high-level strategies, such as metaphors and affordances, designers use. This paper presents an analysis of sketches made by 21 participants designing either a shape-changing radio or a shapechanging mobile phone. The results exhibit a range of interesting design elements, and the analysis points to a need to further develop or revise existing vocabularies for sketching and analyzing movement. The sketches show a prevalent use of metaphors, say, for communicating volume though big-is-on and small-is-off, as well as a lack of conventions. Furthermore, the affordances used were curiously asymmetrical compared to those offered by nonshapechanging interfaces. We conclude by offering implications on how our results can influence future research on shape-changing interfaces.

AB - Shape-changing interfaces allow designers to create user interfaces that physically change shape. However, presently, we lack studies of how such interfaces are designed, as well as what high-level strategies, such as metaphors and affordances, designers use. This paper presents an analysis of sketches made by 21 participants designing either a shape-changing radio or a shapechanging mobile phone. The results exhibit a range of interesting design elements, and the analysis points to a need to further develop or revise existing vocabularies for sketching and analyzing movement. The sketches show a prevalent use of metaphors, say, for communicating volume though big-is-on and small-is-off, as well as a lack of conventions. Furthermore, the affordances used were curiously asymmetrical compared to those offered by nonshapechanging interfaces. We conclude by offering implications on how our results can influence future research on shape-changing interfaces.

KW - actuated interfaces, design, organic interfaces, shape-changing interfaces

U2 - 10.1145/2858036.2858183

DO - 10.1145/2858036.2858183

M3 - Article in proceedings

SN - 978-1-4503-3362-7

SP - 2740

EP - 2751

BT - Proceedings - the 34th Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

PB - Association for Computing Machinery

Y2 - 7 May 2016 through 12 May 2016

ER -