http://436chi-lounge.blogspot.com/2011/01/paper-reading-3-recognizing-shapes-and.html?showComment=1296147523929#c4502274204639712124
http://detentionblockaa32.blogspot.com/2011/01/paper-reading-4-hard-to-use-interfaces.html?showComment=1296147989473#c7026137774589555673
Reference Information
Jim Coffin, Georgia Institute of Technology, CHI 2010 Atlanta, GA April 2010
Summary
This article's main focus is on a device that was built by the author. It is a combination art piece and robotic entity that was shown off to see what reactions were received by the audience. This piece was called Breeze and was a robotic Japanese maple that could move about from various input from the environment. The audience would come in and "dance" with the maple which would in turn respond to their movements. The author then goes on to write several narratives to describe the experience of the interaction
Discussion
This was an interesting article to say the least. The purpose was much more on the artistic aspect of the piece rather than focusing on the quantifiable aspect of the human-robot interaction. The author would repeatedly talk about how people "felt" something when they would be around the maple and he would continue to try and find a deep meaning through these interactions. Not to say that this isn't true, but I believe that humans are essentially just curious by nature and that is simply what the audience was going off of. The different people were surprised to see a robotic tree respond to them when they thought it was nothing more than a regular tree. I think the author falsely attributes this interaction as some sort of deep connection when in reality it is simply curiosity. The narratives he later provides are actually interesting in how the describe the connection that people have with trees and nature in different aspects of life. He makes references to anthropomorphism of trees in many movies and art pieces of our culture. I think there is something to be said about a connection being established with this piece, but maybe not as much as the author makes it out to be.
I haven't read this article, but I agree with you that people are merely interested in the tree because it moves rather than having some deep connection with the tree. I also think this tree has a lot of money earning potential. If he made a few more, I bet people would pay to interact with a little forest - like something out of the Lord of The Rings or something.
ReplyDeleteI third that it was probably just curiosity that got people's attention. However, I'm not as sure about money making potential.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that, along with the novelty of the thing, what generated interest here was the element of surprise - people weren't expecting a moving tree, hence interest. However, if people payed to see a moving tree...well, if they do that and are still surprised they'd better have their memory examined.
Not to say you couldn't make money with it, but I think it would be better served rounding out an experience (say, a theme park) then supporting themselves.