Interaction – Classifying systems

From “What is Interaction? Are there Different Types?” Dubberly, Pangaro, Haque Interactions Jan/Feb 2009.

“Interaction is a way of framing the relationship between people and objects designed for them. ” – 69

Feedback loop – information flows from a system through a person and back through the system again.

Don Norman – Gulf Model / 7 stages of action: Behavior can either start from a goal or be a response to the environment.

Bill Verplank – feel-know-do model

Alan Cooper – persona-goal-scenario design

Types of Systems:

1. Static – those that cannot act, have little or no meaningful effect on the environment

2. Dynamic:

• reactive
• interactive
• linear
• closed-loop: self-regulating, goal-oriented or non-goal oriented
• learning systems: nested 1st self-regulating inside 2nd self-regulating
• 2nd order systems: any higher order system

Douglas Englebart & John Reinfrank : learning may require 3 levels of feedback p72

• basic processes (regulated by 1st order loops)
• processes for improving regulation of basic
• processes for identifying and sharing processes for improving

Cornock & Edmonds

• Static
• dynamic passive
• dynamic interactive
• dynamic interactive (varying)
• matrix

Kenneth Boulding: 9 types of interaction, general systems theory

Characterizing Types of Interaction by System Coupling (73-75)

• reacting (linear-linear)
• regulating (linear- self-regulating)
• learning (linear – learning)
• balancing (self-regulating – self-regulating)
• managing & entertaining (self-regulating – learning)
• conversing (learning – learning)

“it-referenced” – 1st system pokes and directs the 2nd, 2nd does not meaningfully affect the 1st

“I/you referenced” – 1st takes in output of 2nd, 2nd takes in output of 1st.  each system signals the other. room for choice and both systems learn

Classification

- separating in idea the qualities of certain objects and arrange those which are the same kind

Conversation Theory – Gordon Pask

Pask, Gordon. Conversation Theory, Applications in Education and Epistemology. Elsevier: New York, 1976.

- a method for comparing our conception of spatial conditions with the designed machine’s conception of the space.

- allows us to challenge the traditional architectural model of production ad consumption that places firm distinctions between designer, client, owner and occupant. – Haque, “A, I, S” p61

Types of Interaction

from Haque “Architecture, Interaction, Systems”

“Interaction… concerns an exchange of information between 2 systems… this exchange should be in dome sense circular.” – p58

single-loop interaction: outputs determined by filtering

multiple-loop interaction: new information encourages related interactions in the future

“multiple-loop interaction does not depend upon complexity, it depends upon the openness and continuation of cycles of response.” -p59

from Dubberly, Pangaro and Haque “What is Interaction? Are there Different Types?” Interactions Jan/ Feb 2009

Characterizing Types of Interaction by System Coupling (p73-75)

- Reacting (linear-linear)

- Regulating (linear – self-regulating)

- Learning (linear – learning)

- Balancing (self-regulating – self-regulating)

- Managing & Entertaining (self-regulating – learning)

- Conversing (learning – learning)

eeml (extended environments markup language)

- protocol for sharing sensor data between remote responsive environments (physical and virtual)

- markup language that describes the data output of sensors and actuators

- supports addition of context

Data Abstraction

- object-oriented programming

- abstraction of data structures

-allows for the handling of data bits in meaningful manners

Control Abstraction

-structured programming

- the abstraction of actions

- use of subprograms and control flows to simulate desired concepts of surreal features or interactions

On Tekrema

Tekrema Art and Cultural Center

 

“ese ne tekrema” – “the teeth and the tongue” – Adinkra symbol of friendship and interdependence

               

The teeth and the tongue play interdependent roles in the mouth.  They may come into conflict, but they need to work together.  Without the other, one cannot function properly.

 

Adinkra symbols are used to express the connection between the verbal and the visual in Akan culture.  The Akan believe that human creativity affects the universe positively or negatively.  In essence, the Akan believe the universe is both a natural and social creation.

  

I thought this was very interesting given that the premise is to look at both environment (natural) and cultural (social) data, how these construct, or can be used to construct, space (work together) while trying to find a language (verbal) that can be used for design (visual). 

environment data

Considering that “environment” encompasses more than just ecological conditions that can be measured, what are the possibilities when ecological, social and cultural data is combined?  If we can sense social and cultural data, we can then start to understand their influences upon spatial construction.  We can use this information to inform design and design to manipulate social and cultural influences.  Or using social and/or cultural data, design to manipulate ecology…?

environment

- the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions or influences

- ecology

- social and cultural forces