Rare Occurrence: Exploring IoT, news media, calm interfaces and infrequent interactions

Mills, John orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-4491-6796, Metcalfe, Tom, Lochrie, Mark orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-7909-8455 and Gradinar, Adrian (2016) Rare Occurrence: Exploring IoT, news media, calm interfaces and infrequent interactions. Proceedings of the 30th International BCS Human Computer Interaction Conference (HCI 2016) . ISSN 1477-9358

[thumbnail of Version of Record]
Preview
PDF (Version of Record) - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

155kB

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14236/ewic/HCI2016.60

Abstract

Positioned as a new digital interaction paradigm and the potential realisation of ubiquitous computing, the ‘Internet of Things’ is associated with ever-widening user-experiences, products and industries. It is rapidly entering the public consciousness. Spanning smart cars, connected toys, cheap ‘maker’ components and sensor-driven smart cities, IoT casts a wide cloak over near-future digital evolution and Human-Computer Interaction. But what about stories? Our research focuses on a novel design approach to news and media IoT devices. If storytelling is embedded in objects, what opportunities lay beyond the confines of the screen? Can the ‘white noise’ of digital news be inverted through infrequent and rarely occurring interactions with media via calm interfaces and ambient technologies? This paper considers if ‘Rare Occurrence’ objects create novel user connections with deconstructed editorial content and describes objects that communicate news or media that happens rarely, and in doing so seek to create meaning and editorial engagement.


Repository Staff Only: item control page