Exploring the Materials of TUIs: A Multi-Method Approach

ABSTRACT

In this paper we report on the early developments and future plans of a study that aims to shed light on: (1) the material choices designers make when creating tangible user interfaces (TUIs), (2) how people characterise these materials, and (3) how these materials affect the way we experience TUIs. To achieve these goals we designed a study that involves a number of phases and methods, including surveying the range of materials used in TUIs, gathering accounts of how people characterise a selection of these materials and finally evaluating a wider range of materials based on these established characteristics. In the following we present our research approach and discuss the methodologies we will use throughout this study. We conclude by presenting our vision on how these phases will culminate in a better understanding of the material choices of TUIs and how this can be used to inform future designs. Finally, we present this work-in-progress to expose our methodological decisions to the wider DIS community, as we anticipate and welcome expert opinion and feedback on our approach and vision we have for this study.

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Index Terms

• Human-centered computing