Calm Technology for Biofeedback: Why and How?

Since the onset of technology as a tool in our personal and professional lives, we’ve progressed through at least two waves or stages of computing. The concept of ubiquitous computing names the third wave of computing, still in its infancy stages. The first wave consisted of mainframe computers shared by numerous people. The majority of society is presently in the second wave of the personal computing era, where people and machines interact through a predominantly iconic environment. The third phase of computing, referred to as ubiquitous computing, or the age of calm technology, takes place when technology recedes into the background of our daily lives. Alan Kay of Apple calls this the “third paradigm” of computing, while Weiser coins it as the “third wave” of computing (Weiser, 1996).

Download Full-text

Advanced Hands and Eyes Interaction

Handbook of Research on Ubiquitous Computing Technology for Real Time Enterprises ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-832-1.ch019 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 445-469

Author(s):

Michael Weber ◽

Marc Hermann

Keyword(s):

Human Computer Interaction ◽

Ubiquitous Computing ◽

User Interfaces ◽

General Idea ◽

Interaction Techniques ◽

Natural Interaction ◽

Multi Scale ◽

Computer Scientists ◽

Calm Technology ◽

Computer Interaction

This chapter gives an overview of the broad range of interaction techniques for use in ubiquitous computing. It gives a short introduction to the fundamentals of human-computer interaction and the traditional user interfaces, surveys multi-scale output devices, gives a general idea of hands and eyes input, specializes them by merging the virtual and real world, and introduces attention and affection for enhancing the interaction with computers and especially with disappearing computers. The human-computer interaction techniques surveyed here help support Weiser’s idea of ubiquitous computing (1991) and calm technology (Weiser & Brown, 1996) and result in more natural interaction techniques than in use of purely graphical user interfaces. This chapter will thus first introduce the basic principles in human-computer interaction from a cognitive perspective, but aimed at computer scientists. The humancomputer interaction cycle brings us to a discussion of input and output devices and their characteristics being used within this cycle. The interrelation of the physical and virtual world as we see it in ubiquitous computing has its predecessors in the domain of virtual and augmented realities where specific hands and eyes interaction techniques and technologies have been developed. The next step will be attentive and affective user interfaces and the use of tangible objects being manipulated directly without using dedicated I/O devices.

Download Full-text

AiryLight

Handbook of Research on Maximizing Cognitive Learning through Knowledge Visualization - Advances in Knowledge Acquisition, Transfer, and Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-8142-2.ch017 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 487-492 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Annelie Berner

Keyword(s):

Daily Life ◽

Physical Space ◽

Information Need ◽

Aesthetic Object ◽

Everyday Objects ◽

Flow Through ◽

Reference Layer ◽

Information Borrowing ◽

Calm Technology

This chapter explores the practice of combining ubiquitous computing—information in everyday objects—with the approach of calm technology – designing ambient, intriguing presentations of information. Borrowing from these two approaches, we can define a more faceted path, imbuing physical objects and environments with data about their own surroundings in an aesthetic, tangible, and crucially subtle way. The chapter presents the concept of combining three sensory methods to strengthen learning in unexpected situations. One, the role of the spectacle produced through a dynamic, aesthetic object in learning and engagement. Two, providing an optional, detailed reference layer for said spectacle. Three, placing this experience in physical space. Information need not be constrained to the physical page of paper nor the digital screen (European Commission, 2004). Instead, it can flow through our daily life, finding place in subtle (Weiser & Brown, 1995), thoughtfully designed (Löwgren & Stolterman, 2004) surfaces and objects. This chapter discusses the example project, AiryLight, and how its motivation and execution exemplify the more faceted path and the three methods – abstract spectacle, layering of detail, and placement in physical space.

Download Full-text

Heuristic Evaluation of Ambient Devices Using Smart Materials

Proceedings of the Design Society: International Conference on Engineering Design ◽

10.1017/dsi.2019.56 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 519-528

Author(s):

Lucas Marques-Lima ◽

Jenny Faucheu

Keyword(s):

Product Design ◽

User Experience ◽

Smart Materials ◽

Creative Thinking ◽

Smart Material ◽

Heuristic Evaluation ◽

Complex Hybrid ◽

And Function ◽

Calm Technology ◽

Educational Workshop

AbstractTeaching “calm technology” and “smart materials” as prospective trends in product design is the motivation of the educational workshop presented in this paper. Materials can trigger creative thinking. Indeed, concepts can be generated ideas that come from the encounter with a material showing the material's unexpressed potential. However, a smart material is a complex hybrid object. It is a highly technical matter that requires years of R&D to be developed and matured. It is also a highly social matter, that blurs the traditional boundary between matter and function in a product, creates an experience, and enhances sensations. The workshop presented in this paper is an opportunity for the students to analyze the complexity of user experience related to ambient devices using smart materials. In order to provide a guideline to perform this analysis, an approach based on heuristic evaluation is proposed to the students.

Download Full-text

Reviving calm technology in the e-tourism context

Service Industries Journal ◽

10.1080/02642069.2018.1544619 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (5-6) ◽

pp. 343-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Uglješa Stankov ◽

Viachaslau Filimonau

Keyword(s):

Calm Technology

Download Full-text