Designing for the Internet of Things

(^328) | dEsiGninG for EMErGinG tECHnoLoGiEs
Learn new skills
If you’ve never programmed before, pick up a JavaScript, Processing, or
Ruby tutorial. If you’ve never designed a physical object, get some mod-
eling clay and sculpting tools and try to make some interesting shapes.
If you’ve never designed software before, try to map out a flow or design
an interface; start with pencil and paper.
Be critical
When you’ve made your first new thing, take some time to think
about its qualities using some of the frameworks discussed earlier
in this chapter. Use what you learn from this reflection in your next
experiments.
Always think about how your new device, software, or system fits into
the larger connected world. What possibilities does it create? What
potential does it remove? What does it give to people, and what does it
take away?
You won’t be satisfied with your first attempt, but design is all about
iteration. These types of new skills open many possibilities for your
practice as a designer, allowing you to incorporate new technology, pro-
cesses, and techniques into your work.
MAKING THE FUTURE IN WHICH WE WANT TO LIVE
The active ingredient of the work is its interface. The interface is
unusual because it is invisible and very diffuse, occupying a large
volume of space, whereas most interfaces are focussed [sic] and
definite. Though diffuse, the interface is vital and strongly textured
through time and space. The interface becomes a zone of experience,
of multi-dimensional encounter. The language of encounter is initial-
ly unclear, but evolves as one explores and experiences.
—DAVID ROKEBY ON VERY NERVOUS SYSTEM^8
David Rokeby used the preceding statement to describe the nature of
his Very Nervous System interactive installation. These same words
now describe our relationship to an ever-increasing amount of invisi-
ble architecture acting around us. The metaphorical handles and but-
tons that we design into these largely invisible systems will determine
8 Rokeby, David. 2010. “Very Nervous System,” http://www.davidrokeby.com/vns.html.