Am Montag, den 17. März 2025, um 16:15 Uhr hält

Michael Bosomefi Chamunorwa

Universität Oldenburg

im Rahmen seiner beabsichtigten Dissertation einen Vortrag mit dem Titel

Designing User Interfaces Embedded in Everyday Objects for Rich Interaction

 Der Vortrag findet hybrid im statt.

OFFIS, Escherweg 2, Raum F02 und https://meeting.uol.de/rooms/ml4-tro-l57-zwz/join

Abstract: The rise of networked and smart devices in homes and beyond has led to more control interfaces, such as smartphones, dedicated remotes, and voice assistants. Often, these are designed without considering users’ daily practices, and preferences resulting in interfaces that do not sufficiently integrate with user goals and needs. A potential solution to address the shortcomings lies in designing alternative interfaces embedded in familiar objects and surfaces, taking advantage of the interactions humans have learned with their surroundings over millennia.
In this dissertation, we explore the design of alternative user interfaces (UI) embedded in everyday objects to ease the shortcomings of current interaction approaches, particularly in the home. Our iterative explorations begin with finding candidate household objects and potential devices they could be assigned to control (e.g., lighting, temperature, entertainment). Additionally, we devise observation tools and protocols for conducting lab-based or in-situ elicitation and interaction design activities. Later, we utilise the same protocols to observe end-users as they propose mappings between sample everyday objects and networked devices. We compile observations from this elicitation process into functional requirements and fabricate interactive prototypes with sensing and actuating materials. We finally evaluate these prototypes in lab user studies to document the associated user experience (UX) and gain insights into how users perceive their overall functionality and designs.
Our findings indicate that alternative interfaces can be realised by exploiting the secondary affordances of everyday objects (i.e. physical attributes that accommodate control interfaces without disrupting primary functions). However, for these interfaces to effectively function as alternative UIs, designers must consider their contextual and physical attributes while carefully navigating design trade-offs that impact UX. Key considerations in this regard include ensuring intuitive mappings between gestures and functions, using multimodal feedback appropriately, and preserving the object’s original purpose. Further results also show that some interfaces embedded in everyday objects are scalable, allowing a single object to control multiple devices. However, future research should address the scalability of these solutions across diverse user groups, a wider range of everyday objects and interaction contexts.
This work improves our understanding of interaction paradigms beyond screens and voice control. It contributes to the body of knowledge on how the physical attributes of objects shape user interactions and affordances in different environments.
Betreuerin: Prof. Dr. Susanne Boll