DCM110: A Designerly Perspective on IoT
[rich interaction] [product design]
February 2023 - April 2023
This course focused on exploring alternatives to traditional screen-based interactions in IoT systems by emphasizing Rich and Embodied Interaction frameworks. It challenged us to rethink interaction paradigms, drawing inspiration from embodied, tangible, and rich interaction research. It also introduced a growing systems approach, highlighting that IoT systems should evolve and adapt as their context or user needs change.
As part of this course, my team and I designed Hyco, an IoT artefact that bridges personal care and environmental awareness. Hyco helps users understand their ambient humidity preferences while actively adjusting indoor humidity levels to suit their daily activities. By linking indoor humidity to hydration and physical activity, Hyco encourages users to care for both themselves and their homes. Its modular design supports system growth, allowing functionality to evolve alongside changing user needs or contexts. This project positioned Hyco within the rich interaction framework, offering a tangible, adaptive, and user-centered approach to IoT systems design.
Result of first iteration
Final product
I valued the course's multidisciplinary approach, which involved creating a physical, museum-quality prototype informed by assigned literature. This process enhanced my prototyping skills and underscored the importance of experienceable prototypes. It showed me how easy it can be to create a locus of interaction overburdened with interactions and how to circumvent that. In our case, we designed an artefact with interaction based on a metaphor. The metaphor worked for 2 out of 3 functionalities. Adding a second metaphor to cover all functionalities greatly affects the intuitiveness and information for use of a product. This taught me to understand when and how to let go of certain ideas. Additionally, I discovered that increasing modalities, such as adding lights, can enhance a product’s communication and usability, reinforcing the connection between user and artefact.
My contribution was in situating the research in within the academia, working on the product design and conceptualization (prototyping).
Competency development
