Overview
Skype and WhatsApp are a blessing to those living far away from each other wanting to maintain their relationship. However, because a large part of our in-person communication is touch-based, current mediated communication is limited in its capacity. Mediated touch devices could satisfy touch communication needs in the future, and some of the key challenges are to understand what would be meaningful and acceptable to people, and how a mediated touch interaction could work.
Deliverables: In this project we defined design guidelines for such devices and interactions, based on expert interviews, and focus groups with expatriates. I demonstrate how these guidelines could be applied via two concept sketches.
Key words: Social media, Communication technology, Interpersonal touch, Telepresence, Qualitative research, Design guidelines, Translation to concepts
Social touch over distance
The main purpose of social touch over distance is to create a sense of presence to aid a feeling of closeness and care. The social aspects of touch have implications for the design of the mediated device and its interaction.
Design guidelines:
1. Mediated touch should be an abstract simulation of touch.
"Real-life touch may even be completely abstracted as people can accept a new interaction more easily than accepting a poor imitation of something they are so familiar with." Paul Strohmeier (from expert interviews)
2. Define the purpose of the mediated touch device clearly and early, as touch can have different meanings for sender and receiver, and might be accepted differently depending on type of relationship, body area of touch, context of use, mood during interaction, gender and culture.
3. Enable use of mediated touch in shared context, as that gives a feeling of co-presence (sharing a moment of silence, bring in the same space)
4. Allow synchronous communication; touch is bi-directional.
5. Provide feeling of control for receiver by indicating availability, while allowing spontaneity ("..what makes touch special") by making expectancy cues subtle.
6. Keep interactions clear and fast to resolve ambiguity in shared emotions, while enabling certain level of personalisation as touch is by nature intimate and making all interactions standard could result in loss of information.
7. Use warmth for simulating touch. Instead of vibration, simulate stroking. Sharing heart beat can be an intimate way of emulating presence. Use inflatable and soft materials for subtle sending and reception of touch.
Concept I. Hand-holding pillow
This concept is designed for partners/couples who are living away from each other, and want to share intimate moments like holding hands, and being in each other's presence.
Design is to allow synchronous communication between partners to send personalized touch messages.
The concept product is a pillow for each partner that allows sending and receiving tactile messages and subtly indicates message status using light. In combination with the pillow is a bracelet that sits on each partners wrists and measures heart rate, senses location, and notifies when a message is received (in case they are not near the pillow).
Concept II. Poking watch
For friends, poking over distance made real!
Design is to allow (a)synchronous communication between friends for sending light-weight messages.
Light-weight communication which allows people to use their smart watches to send quick and micro messages to friends, these messages could mean 'I am thinking of you', or simply 'Knock knock!'. Experience upgraded with just adding two patches to your smartwatch and installing an app.
