Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits and Misses
Reading “Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits” made me realize that I don’t always have to invent something completely new. I learned that common projects are “hits” for a good reason. They are popular because they create a very clear and intuitive link between what a person does and what happens next. It showed me that these projects are powerful building blocks for learning, not just simple exercises to be done once and forgotten.
This article changed how I think about my own creative work. I used to worry a lot about being totally original, but now I see it’s more important to focus on the feeling or experience I’m creating. It’s okay to use a familiar idea, like a glove that senses movement, as long as I use it in a way that feels surprising or meaningful. It’s a relief to know that the human experience is more important than the technology itself.
Making Interactive Art: Set the Stage, Then Shut Up and Listen
The main lesson I learned from “Making Interactive Art” is that my job isn’t to tell the audience what to think or do. My first instinct is usually to explain everything so people “get it,” but this reading showed me that’s the wrong way. Instead, my role is to “set the stage” and to provide the space, the objects, and maybe a few hints. The real art isn’t just the thing I built. It’s the experience that people have when they explore it for themselves.
This approach means I have to “shut up and listen,” which requires a lot of trust. I have to trust that my design gives enough clues and trust that the audience will be creative. It helped me see that when people use my project in a way I didn’t expect, it’s not a failure, it’s a discovery. This makes the audience a partner in the art.