9th European Conference on
Computer-Supported Cooperative Work

Tutorial. Sunday 18 September
Prototyping Tangible Interfaces

Oren Zuckerman, MIT Media Laboratory
Co-organizer: Jean-Baptiste Labrune, INRIA

Description

This tutorial focuses on tangible interfaces to support collaboration. We will demonstrate several tangible interfaces with special emphasis on collaboration, review relevant literature, and learn about the prototyping techniques used when creating tangible interfaces. In a participatory design activity, using prototyping blocks and video brainstorming techniques, participants will create their own prototypes, leveraging their own expertise in their respective fields. If time permits, participants will create a working interactive interface, using an electronics prototyping platform developed at MIT Media Lab. The tutorial will encourage discussion, particularly on the current state-of-the-art and fruitful research directions. The tutorial will conclude with a panel discussion on the topics raised during the design process, and the issues raised will be published on a website devoted to the design of tangible interfaces for collaboration.

Audience

This tutorial is intended for researchers, students and practitioners who would like to learn more about the design of tangible interfaces for collaboration and tangible interaction in general. Ideally, participants will come from a mix of backgrounds, including HCI, computer science, design, psychology, art, social science. This tutorial is limited to 12 participants, in order to ensure adequate access to prototyping materials and instructor support.

Instructor

Oren Zuckerman is currently at MIT's Media Laboratory, working closely with Prof. Mitch Resnick (Lifelong Kindergarten group) and Prof. Hiroshi Ishii (Tangible Media group). His research interests include new forms of human-computer interaction, systems thinking and playful learning. His current research involves the design and evaluation of interactive learning blocks - physical blocks with embedded computation that facilitate collaboration, learning and play.