Articulating Soma Experiences using Trajectories

Abstract

In this paper, we refect on the applicability of the concept of trajectories to soma design. Soma design is a frst-person design method which considers users' subjective somatic or bodily experiences of a design. Due to bodily changes over time, soma experiences are inherently temporal. Current instruments for articulating soma experiences lack the power to express the efects of experiences on the body over time. To address this, we turn to trajectories, a well-known concept in the HCI community, as a way of mapping this aspect of soma experience. By showing trajectories through a range of dimensions, we can articulate individual experiences and diferences in those experiences. Through analysis of a set of

Squeaky/Pain: Articulating the Felt Experience of Pain for Somaesthetic Interactions

“…For instance, when using body maps with participants, verbal or textual articulation of the drawings is required to access the reflected experiences. Tennent et. al.…”

“…As shown in Figure 7, these drawings aid conversations during the first interview, enabling participants to explain their experiences by referring to their drawings. According to Tennent et al (2021), body maps can stimulate conversations when cultivating felt experiences. Thus, some aspects of the participants' felt experiences were revealed via the verbal articulation of body maps as part of the interviews.…”

“…Tal com es mostra a la figura 7, els dibuixos van ajudar a generar converses durant la primera entrevista i van permetre que els participants expliquessin les seves experiències fent-hi referència. Segons Tennent et al (2021), els mapes corporals poden estimular converses quan cultiven experiències sentides. D'aquesta manera, alguns aspectes de les experiències sentides pels participants es van desvelar gràcies a l'articulació verbal dels mapes corporals que incloïen les entrevistes.…”

“…Per exemple, quan s'utilitzen mapes corporals amb els participants cal l'articulació verbal o textual dels dibuixos per accedir a les experiències reflectides. Tennent et. al.…”

Making Crank-Powered Interactions: Methods, Demonstrators, Materials

“…In our research practice, many different modes of representation have been used, both by us and our students, to explore and test out design ideas related to crank powered interactions (see Figures 4 and 5). Methods explored for this purpose include hands-only scenarios [4], role playing, low-fidelity prototyping, soma trajectories [23], Wizard of Oz and UX videos that combine elements of roleplay with different fidelity prototypes and simplistic post production to envision interactions.…”