Poetic Communication through an Interactive Carpet

 

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The interactive carpet enables shared presence or connectedness through poetic and aesthetic expressions and interactions. Movements and activities on one carpet will be reflected in real time by actuated movements of carpet tufts on a remote carpet, thus enabling motion and gestural communication between two separate spaces.



Recent research in Human Computer studies have shown that smart technology alone is not what people desire for in their homes [1]. According to Dunne, "the most difficult challenges for designers of electronic objects now lie not in technical and semiotics functionality, where optimal levels of performance are already attainable, but in the realms of metaphysics, poetry and aesthetics, where little research has been carried out" [2]. This research is the beginning of a series of products that look to explores the realm of poetry and aesthetics through technology and products. We define this kind of technology for communication as  'Poetic communication' and have developed an interactive carpet that explore and test these ideas further.



The etymology of the word Poetry in Arabic and Greek helps us to better understand Poetic communication. The English word Poetry is derived from the Greek 'poiein' meaning 'to make' and in Arabic, the word for poetry is derived from the work  'Shi'ir' which means 'to feel' [3].  Poetic communication combines both the meanings - 'to make' and 'to feel' and this needed to be the essence of the technology that enables Poetic communications.



HCI research in Family Communication has shown that adoption of domestic communication technology happens through small imperceptible steps from the edge of existing products such as furniture [6]. In a study done with parents to understand their most valuable awareness information, it showed that one of the three key information they required was the activity and location information of their dependant children [7]. The interactive carpet is a surface that allows for this kind of information exchange that is subtle, silent and non intrusive.





In Collaboration with Jose Sepulveda, Wendy Thun



Refere¬nces

1.   Olivier, P., Wallace J.: Digital Technology and emotional families. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Vol 67, 204 – 214 (2009)
2. Dunne, A.: Hertzian Tales: Electronic Products, Aesthetic Experiences and Critical Design. MIT Press, Cambridge (2005)
3. Abdul-Settar, A: The Etymology of the Word "Poetry" in Arabic and Indo-European Languages. Retrieved May 18, 2010 from http://www.shvoong.com/humanities/1779651-etymology-word-poetry-arabic-indo/

6. Bonner, V.H.J: Adding critical sensibilities to domestic communication technology. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Vol 67, 215-221 (2009)

7. Khan, V.J., Markopoulos, P., Busy families’ awareness needs. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Vol 67, pp139-153 (2009)