Metaphone

Abstract

Through our art project, Metaphone, we explored a particular form of aesthetics referred to in the arts tradition as machine aesthetics. The Metaphone machine collects the participant's bio-data, Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and Heart Rate (HR), creating a process of movement, painting and sound. The machine behaves in machine-like, aesthetically evocative ways: a shaft on two large wheels rotates on the floor, carrying paint that is dripped onto a large sheet of aquarelle paper on the floor according to bio-sensor data. A soundscape rhythmically follows the bio-sensor data, but also has its own machine-like sounds. Six commentators were invited to interact with the machine. They reported a strangely relaxing atmosphere induced by the machine. Based on these experiences we discuss how different art styles can help to describe aesthetics in interaction design generally, and how machine aesthetics in particular can be used to create interesting, sustained, stylistically coherent interactions. AUTHOR

Teaching Soma Design

“…The week also included a second reading seminar on aesthetics in HCI (including papers [19,37,39,46,51]) and finally a visit to the head offices of Electrolux. There, the students got the opportunity to get a better understanding of their particular brand identity and discuss with designers working at Electrolux about the project brief.…”

Dancing With Drones

“…Wilde [64] played with awkward movements as a path to kinesthetic discovery and playfulness with hipDisk, two disks worn as a skirt generating music when hips and torso move horizontally, making the wearer "look silly". Šimbelis and colleagues [66] describe how the audience members experienced frustration and confusion as they tried to control the art piece Metaphone -a system that generates paintings from the performer's bio-sensor data and movements -only to learn they could not control it. Instead the performer had to find what was in-between control and surrender.…”