Conference Publication Details
Mandatory Fields
Petrelli D.;Soranzo A.;Ciolfi L.;Reidy J.
TEI 2016 - Proceedings of the 10th Anniversary Conference on Tangible Embedded and Embodied Interaction
Exploring the aesthetics of tangible interaction: Experiments on the perception of hybrid objects
2016
February
Validated
1
Scopus: 7 ()
Optional Fields
Aesthetics Behaviour Empirical study Form Hybrid objects Material Perception Psychology
100
108
© 2016 ACM. We report the results of an extended empirical two-stage study on the aesthetics of hybrid objects that combine form and behaviour. By combining two shapes (spheres and cubes); two sizes (7.5cm and 15cm); two materials (fabric and plastic); and four behaviours (emitting light, emitting sound, vibrating or displaying no behaviour) we created 32 objects that differ for a single feature. In a betweenparticipants study, 175 participants assessed and described the 32 objects. From this, seven dimensions were identified: pleasant; interesting; comfortable; playful; relaxing; special and surprising. In a second between-participants experiment 486 participants rated each object on the seven dimensions from the first study. Overall Spheres, Fabric, and Vibration were the preferred features, but for some of the dimensions specific combinations of features were rated more positively. This paper contribution is twofold: it provides a first study on the aesthetic of tangible interaction as a combination of form and behaviour outlining a potential instrument to measure it; and it provides empirical evidence of the value of experimenting with different forms (spheres) and material (fabric) even if they are difficult to create as they generate the strongest aesthetic effects.
10.1145/2839462.2839478
Grant Details