Abstract for Stanford presentation:

We notice a disquieting resemblance between the user of current computer technology and the unfortunate person trapped in the medieval pillory. We suggest this is symptomatic for a design tradition that looks at people as soft blobs augmenting our "magnificent machines," rather than recognizing and utilizing the amazing capability we humans have qua our embodied intellect and intelligence.

FXPAL has over the last few years developed an emerging framework for interaction design which combines (1) technology for the entire human body and mind (i.e., efforts in engaging more of the human capacity) with (2) tangible computing (i.e., efforts of re-physicalizing, re-naturalizing the human-computer interface).

We call this framework "tacit interaction"; for a particular task that the user engages in we look at the role of technology relative to the task. We emphasize two major element of the interaction: the degree of explicitness, pre-meditation, and intent with which the user deal with the computer, and the attention required to perform the current task.

In this talk we will explain the framework. We will locate traditional computer applications in the models of our framework, and we will present and position some of our own prototypes: AROMA, Palette, and TactGuide. Tacit Interaction is one of several approaches to turn the concept of ubiquitous computing into practical designs and design criteria.

For more details, please check out:

Lecture in Human-Computer Interaction Seminar series 1998-1999 at Stanford, 5/14/1999