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

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.