Tangible User Interfaces - Fall 2011

Bowl and Fork

• My friend Scott sticks a fork into his bowl of instant noodle to keep the lid closed as well as hold it while he brings it over to his table.
• Utensils or dishware could be designed to account for one another. For example, dishware could have a lip to rest utensils; utensils could be a lid for dishware; etc.

There are many, many thoughtless acts everywhere.  I found a few around my lab and the campus.

1. Lamp used to hold glasses.

There is a chair in our house. It's comfortable, well lit and perfect for reading.  It sits right next to my boyfriend's desk.  Rather than a reading location, the chair has become is temporary storage site for items that are not currently in use, may soon be in use or are otherwise difficult to assign a location to. I've been assured that there is a method to this madness...

This concept is one that I find really stimulating. Thinking about why people do the things that they do and the ways that people can repurpose their environment to be more useful, engaging, purposful.

Below are two photos that both capture how people are using the space as a place to rest. These resting points are not designed to be this, they are meant as a way to indicate foot traffic only, or no vehicles.

Inspired by some of the example observations shown at the class, I walked around the Berkeley-campus to capture different examples of everyday thoughtless acts. During my adventure I came across three good examples; a classic, practical and height-advantage.

You will find my assignment as attachment below

At the laundry room in my dorm room there are always cloths hanging to dry on the heating pipes near the washing machines and the dryers. People probably use the pipes instead of the dryer to dry their cloths either because they do not want to use the dryers or because they are all in use.

An envelope being used as a mailbox. Although the purpose of the envelope is still to put something in it, it is now being used to invite people to put their invitations in and use the envelope as a mailbox.