Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits (and misses)
I agree with Igoe’s idea of recurring “hits and misses,” but I don’t think a project has to be deeply meaningful to count as a hit. Sometimes, a piece can still be successful if it’s creative, interesting, or just fun to interact with. I also think context plays a role in making something feel meaningful, especially through how users receive feedback. For example, the Monsters Inc. scream canisters in Disneyland Paris come to mind. As a kid, I loved screaming into them and watching the energy bar go up to the top, it’s a perfect example of feedback making the interaction more memorable.
I used to get hesitant about working on projects that weren’t completely original, feeling like I needed to come up with something new. But Igoe’s words reminded me that even if an idea’s been done before, I can still make it mine by adding my own personal touch.
Making Interactive Art: Set the Stage, Then Shut Up and Listen
I found Igoe’s idea of “setting the stage and shutting up” really interesting because it shows just how much power interpretation has in interactive art. When artists or designers immediately tell their audience what something means, it limits how people can experience it. I think there’s this sort of psychological effect that once you’re told what something is, it’s hard to see it in any other way. So I think it’s more effective to let users come to their own conclusions, even if it means they interpret the project differently from what was intended.
While making my own projects, I understand how my project works but users might not. By actually watching and hearing how they interact with it, I can figure out what’s confusing or what needs improvement. Feedback like that helps me refine my designs to make them more intuitive and engaging.