clarification on ecological psychology and embodiment february 25, 2004
TRANSCRIPT
Clarification on Ecological Psychology
and EmbodimentFebruary 25, 2004
Interface semantics
• Structuralism (semiotics)• “Affordances” (gestalt)
Sign = Sr + Sd(Structuralism)
• Linguistics• Saussure
Structuralism
• Admits values and history• All meaning is relative• Used in designing control, display and attention management
• Foundation for:– Post-Modernism– Critical Theory– Post-Structuralism
Gestalt / “Affordances”
• Gestalt psychology– Kurt Lewin– The whole is more than the sum of the parts
• Ecological psychology: a psychology of affordance– JJ Gibson– Door handle “wants” to be grasped
“Affordances”
• Does not admit values or history
• “Universals”• Mostly used for control aspects
Hold me
Pour me
Yank me
“Affordance”
Hold me
Pour me
Yank me
“Affordance”
2-stroke chainsaw engine says “Macho”
BlenderGreen plastic says outdoor power tool
Name says hard-drinkin’ at sporting events
Structuralism
Click this
Type here“Affordance”
Find everything
Click this
Type here“Affordance”
“We care”
“Official”
Structuralism
Find everything
Title or link?
What does this font say?
EmbodimentCreating interfaces that allow “FLOW”: loss of self-consciousness in the activity
Example: Soccer, skiing, writing
EmbodimentCreating interfaces that allow “FLOW”: loss of self-consciousness in the activity
Example: Soccer, skiing, writing
“EXPERTESE” may involve embodiment but is not embodiment.
EmbodimentCreating interfaces that allow “FLOW”: loss of self-consciousness in the activity
Example: Soccer, skiing, writing
“EXPERTESE” may involve embodiment but is not embodiment.
CSCW question: WHEN does the object say what and to WHOM? (Tony and the electric kettle)
Put on stove (oops)
Plug in
Pour Me