Encounters on a shape-changing bench: exploring atmospheres and social behaviour in situ

  • Authors:
  • Sofie Kinch;Erik Grönvall;Marianne Graves Petersen;Majken Kirkegaard Rasmussen

  • Affiliations:
  • Aarhus School of Architecture & The Alexandra Institute Ltd., Aarhus, Denmark;IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen S, Denmark;Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark;Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction
  • Year:
  • 2014

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Abstract

In this paper we introduce coMotion, a shape-changing bench. We explore how physical changes of the bench can shape social situations and how contextual atmospheres may affect users' experience of the shape-changing bench and its surroundings. The bench was tested in three different contexts; a concert hall, an airport and a shopping mall. We gathered insights from more than 120 people, as they unexpectedly encountered the shape changing capabilities of the bench. By taking the user tests out of the lab and into the wild, we explored the influence of context on the users experience of a shape-changing interface, as well as on the experienced atmospheres.