Designing for the Internet of Things

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create feedback in the form of sound and video.^4 To fully understand
the aspects of movement and feedback systems he was interested in, he
had to learn new technologies, create innovative solutions to unknown
problems, and build his own sensors and output devices. If this sounds
familiar, it’s because these are exactly the same types of activities and
problems facing designers and artists today. Figure 14 - 3 presents a
series of images illustrating the results of people interacting with the
system.
f gure 14-3. i various people interacting with david rokeby’s very nervous
s ystem (1986 – 2004) at aceartinc., winnipeg, Canada^5
To explore new concepts, behaviors, and environments, artists and
designers need to develop a new set of tools and skills. Architects and
interior designers use physical models, known as a maquette, to exper-
iment with form, materials, lighting, orientation, and other properties
of their designs. Similarly, designers working with emerging technol-
ogies need tools to experiment, mold, and model the elements of net-
worked devices, software, and complex systems.
4 Rokeby, David. 1982–1984. “Reflexions,” http://www.davidrokeby.com/reflex.html.
5 Photos by William Eakin, Liz Garlicki and Risa Horowitz. Image arrray design Mike
Carroll. 2003.