Designing for sensing, sensibilities, and sense-making

Three experimental devices address new challenges in designing tools and experiences for learning as they enable collecting information from physical and social environments, and reflecting on its implications in personal and public spheres.

Abstract

During recent decades, miniaturisation and affordability of silicon chips have led to pervasiveness of devices for computation and communication. Now sensing technologies are becoming smaller and cheaper, and therefore more widely available to augment capabilities of mobile computational devices. These capabilities pose new challenges in designing tools and experiences for learning. Three experimental devices address such challenges as they enable collecting information from physical and social environments, and reflecting on its implications in personal and public spheres: 'Nature Trailer' is a location-aware story and decision-making tool for hikers; 'Smoke Rings' detects environmental tobacco smoke and projects potential consequences of prolonged exposures; and 'TexTales' co-opts cameras and mobile telephones as tools for developing public opinion.