Teaching Design of Emerging Embodied Technologies

Abstract

How does design of emerging embodied technologies enrich the HCI learning processes? The authors introduce a model for embodied interaction and use it in the development of a painting app for children based on the motion sensor Asus Xtion Pro (similar to Kinect). The development of the app was part of a HCI course for engineering students. The motion sensor was interesting as a design tool, because it appealed to full body interaction. The development exemplified and unfolded the embodied elements: multiple modalities, physical, bodily, social, and symbolic interaction in a situated environment. Subsequently, the authors introduce a physical-digital toolbox, illustrating the span of parameters within the model for embodied interaction: robot technology, tangibles, wearables, interactive surroundings, and bigger objects.