Strategies for Sonic Interaction Design: from Context to Basic Design

Abstract

We advocate a new approach to the design of interactive and sonically augmented artifacts. It is aimed at enriching the context within which design takes place, while integrating the level of structured exploration that has been instrumental to formalizing design processes for nearly a century. The proposed process combines the systematic approach of basic design with exploratory studies within an existing everyday setting. The approach is particularly salient for auditory display in products, due to the relative lack of design examples and methods that exist for those working in this area to draw upon. We describe a study undertaken in domestic kitchen, a setting that has long been recognized as ripe with expressive, sonic interactions. The results of this contextual research have been used for the design of sonically-augmented lamps. We analyze the relevant results, and describe plans for integrating assessment methods.