Interaction table
A research-based project aimed at measuring the engagement and collaboration around a table. A table with 3 chairs test environment was created to research whether movement and shifts in body weight corresponded to higher or lower concentration.
Project Details
Role: Designer and Data Visualisation (Team of 4)
Length: 5 months
Key skills: CAD( Fusion 360), Data Visualisation, Teamwork, Material Design
Background
The project arose from a study of a 12-hour period where any and all interactions throughout a day were measured and mapped, the four measures were a time of day, valence, arousal and depth. The hotspots where the most vivid information was captured was in the design studio spaces. This led to further exploration of the interactions in this space which is where the concept for the interaction table was born. The aim was to compare audio and haptic data received at the table and analyse what made better or worse communication.
Design Process
The table setup consisted of directional microphones placed in front of each person at the table and force-sensitive resistors in the seats, these were all wired to a central Arduino which collated the data being received. The materials in the seat were chosen carefully to make sure the weight was dissipated evenly which meant the readings weren’t too erratic.
Final Outcome
The final visualisation was created by running live results through Processing a visual coding platform that used a Java dialect. The results were recorded in a specific test environment created to test the participant’s collaboration. The next steps of this project are to analyse the results and explore possible solutions in which this data could drive. It would be interesting to explore how platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams could utilise this information to drive improvement and new features across the app.