Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits (and misses)
Just simply scrolling through the list of “greatest hits,” I was struck by how it those simple concepts were utilized nowadays and how universal physical computing actually is. I think seeing these categories laid out so clearly is incredibly useful. For example, those floor dance arcade games, sensory gloves, and multi-touch sensors used in modern interactive museums are using those concepts developed in physical computing. This definitely shows how many systems nowadays are just an extension of physical computing projects. It reminds me that innovation doesn’t always mean inventing something completely new, but can also be about putting a personal or novel twist on a classic concept. I believe the real value here is as a starting point. Instead of staring at a blank slate, I can look at this list and think, “How could I reinterpret a ‘mechanical pin display’ or a ‘glove controller’ in a way that is unique to me?” in my future projects.
Making Interactive Art: Set the Stage, Then Shut Up and Listen
This article fundamentally challenges the way I thought about my role as a creator of interactive things. The instruction to “set the stage, then shut up and listen” is a powerful and difficult one. I think my instinct, like many, is to over-explain, to guide the user to the “correct” experience so they don’t miss my intended point. But this piece reminds me that the magic of interaction happens in the unscripted moments. I believe the author is right. The meaning is not something I embed and the user extracts, but something that is created in the dialogue between the person and the work. It makes me want to create pieces that are more like questions than statements, and to have the confidence to let the audience find their own answers.