Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits (and misses)
I really liked the idea that you should not give up on your idea, even if it was already implemented. Instead, if you actually have thoughts on how this particular idea can be improved, it is definitely worth trying to implement it. We are all different in our own ways, so one can come up with something new that the other people did not even think about. There is always room for uniqueness, and if we will stop thinking about something that was done by other people, and rather focus on our imagination and unconventional perspective, we can achieve extraordinary things. This applies not only to the art field but also to life in general.
Other than the author’s idea, I quite enjoyed reading about the examples that he gave. I have seen or at least thought of many of the devices that are mentioned, but I am 100% sure that each of them can be enhanced in one way or another. Looking through some of them in particular, I noticed how people’s imagination can turn into something interesting and original. Some of the works that I liked the most are Troll Mirror and Hourglass Mirror by Daniel Rozin.
Making Interactive Art: Set the Stage, Then Shut Up and Listen
I fully agree with the author’s ideas in this reading. First of all, I really liked the line drawn between interactive artwork and ‘conventional’ art like sculpture and painting. It brings me back to the previous readings about interactivity and what is important to keep in mind while designing it. A user should be able to intuitively catch the idea of what to do without explanations needed. Secondly, I liked the comparison between the director and the artists. You do not want to ‘label’ your interactive artwork by imposing/prompting your idea to the people. They need to reflect on your artwork from their own perspective, which can potentially bring deeper understanding and open unique angles of interpretation of the idea, helping you to work on future improvements of the artwork.
I now understand why the professor did not allow us to describe or explain our midterm projects during the showcase. It was actually quite useful to see and hear (shut up and listen) authentic reactions and feedback from my classmates. It helped me understand which sides of my work I would need to improve in the future to ease the interaction and perception.