Our digital interactions are rapidly moving from our desktops to our mobile devices, with novel forms of interactivity increasingly being developed for the urban environment. The promise of Smart Cities and the Internet of Things (IoT) means that new digital interactions are increasingly being developed for digital products, displays and media façades within public spaces. In order to better design for these technologies, we must understand the nature of public engagement given both the physical properties and social context (or place) of their location. This session will attempt to define the relative contribution of space (the physical properties of a location) and place (the socially constructed meaning of the location). I will also seek to provide possible solutions to the challenges of designing for such interactions in the form of useful methodologies and processes for practitioners, showing examples from several case studies.

1. !
22 July 2014
UXPA Conference London 2014
!
Imeh Akpan!
Space, Place and Engagement
with Digital

4. The virtual is surpassing
physical experiences.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINa46HeWg8

5. How might technology enhance
our physical experiences rather
than distract us from it?

6. The City as
an Interface
http://heretotherepublishing.com/blog/?p=2052

7. Comparative Feedback in the street: Exposing Residential Energy consumption on House Facades!
Vande Moere et al, ACM Interact 2011

8. http://uva.co.uk/work/origin
2011

9. http://incandescentcloud.com/aboutcloud/
2012

10. http://uva.co.uk/work/hereafter
2007

11. HOW?
1
2
Communicate
interaction modes
3
Encourag
public
Capture passer-by
attention.

12. http://trappedmagazine.com/2013/02/26/interactive-nike-advertising-at-selfridges/

13. http://www.sanceau.net/?page_id=40

14. 1
Shadow
Wall
10
Differing
Locations
1647
Logged
Interactions
30
Interview
in situ

15. Shadow Wall

18. How can digital products
within public spaces capture
human attention?
1

19. Spatial structure is important to the
visibility of public displays and artefacts.

20. Space Syntax!
Isovist

21. Appreciation of public displays and
artefacts is limited by physical proximity
and the relevance of the content.

22. The study showed
that people do
notice from afar.

23. How can digital products within public
spaces capture human attention?
1
- Appreciation of public displays and
artefacts is limited by physical proximity
and the relevance of the content.
- Spatial structure is important to the
visibility of public displays and
artefacts.

24. Salience is not sufficient in
communicating interactivity.

25. How can digital products within
public spaces communicate
interaction modes?
2

26. Dance Studio
Main cloisters of the university campus

27. Create opportunities for Incidental interaction.

28. The “Honey-pot” effect provides opportunity to
communicate interactivity through social learning.

29. Consider Spatial Organisation when designing
for social interaction.

30. http://www.specialmoves.com/home/donut-pong

31. Physical form and affordances is important.

32. How can digital products within public
spaces communicate interaction modes?
2
- Create opportunities for Incidental interaction.
- The “Honey-pot” effect provides opportunity to
communicate interactivity through social learning.
- Consider spatial organisation when
designing for social interaction.
- Physical form and affordances is important.

33. How can digital products within
public spaces encourage
public engagement?
3

34. Place, as a social construct is
not experienced uniformly by all
people in the same location.

35. Reduce Apprehension.!
- Complement social perception.
- Knowledge can help reduce uncertainty.
- Progressive disclosure
- Design familiarity and comfort.

36. http://greyworld.org/archives/572
Comperes help legitimise the activity and provide a
rationale for participation

37. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8amMCVAJQ&feature=kp
Emergent champions play an important role in
making interaction socially acceptable and valued.

39. - Space !
- Salience!
- Proximity!
- Content
- Incidental interaction.
- “Honey-pot” effect
- Spatial Organisation
- Physical form
- A
- Reduce Apprehension.
- Comperes
- Emergent champions
Capture passer-by
attention?
1
Communicate
interaction
2
Encourag
public engagement
3

40. Thank you
me@imehakpan.com
@Imeh_akpan
http://www.imehakpan.com
slideshare.net/imehakpan967