CHI 2012 User Experience Group

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Towards intuitive interaction with everyday objects

Vincent Olislagers
K3, Malm Hgskola Interaction Design master programme +46-765774843 vincentolislagers@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
This paper investigates if we can reinterpret and augment the way we interact with everyday objects in order to make the interaction more intuitive and explores ways to rethink, in a broader sense, how we interact more intuitively and perhaps more joyfully with the world around us. We evaluate the notion of intuitive interaction in the context of the Convenient Bicycle, an intelligent bicycle locking mechanism which emphasizes the bicycles core quality; to be an unmitigated object for cycling.

Were filling up the world with amazing devices and systemson top of the natural and human ones that were already hereonly to discover that these complex systems seem to be out of control: too complex to understand, let alone to shape, or redirect. (Thackara, 2006, pp. 1) The state of being in which people are able to interact in an intuitive manner, without being distracted by problems in the periphery of their attention is called flow. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1991) Flow yields productivity; to make people more productive and happy, it behooves us to design interactive products to promote and enhance flow. (Cooper, 2007, pp. 201) But how can we go towards more productive and intuitive modes of interaction? In order to answer this we have to define what can be perceived intuitive interaction behavior. Hurtienne, et al. define a system as being intuitively usable while the particular user is able to interact effectively, not-consciously using previous knowledge. (Hurtienne, et al 2007) From a more HCI-oriented perspective intuitive interaction can be described by classifying five layers on which interaction takes place (Foley & van Dam, 1982 and Buxton, 1983), stratified at: the conceptual level the semantic level the syntactic level the lexical level the pragmatic (physical) level

Categories and Subject Descriptors

H.1.2 [User/Machine Systems]: Human Factors; H.5.2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: User Interfaces, User-centered design;

General Terms
Human Factors, Intuitive use, Usability, Experimentation, Aesthetics, Physicality

Keywords
Intuitive interaction, interaction modality, tangible interaction

1.

INTRODUCTION

In an increasingly complicated world filled with technology it seems to have become harder than ever to interact with our environment in an unambiguous and logical way. Thackara (2006) argues that the ways in which we interact with modern electronic appliances differ vastly different from the way we have been traditionally interacting with the world around us:

CHI 2012 User Experience Group The conceptual level defines the mental model the user has of the object it is trying to interact with. It incorporates the main concepts of the system as seen by the user. (Buxton, 1983) The semantic level describes the functionality of the object; the interplay of user input and system feedback. It is a measure of the freedom of choice the user has in their interaction with the system. The syntactical level holds the grammatical framework for the creation of interaction tokens (words) used to construe semantic concepts. The lexical level embodies the structure of these tokens, and at the pragmatic level these tokens are made manifest physically as user actions (e.g. the user inserting his credit card in an ATM machine) and system output (e.g. the ATM machine producing bank notes and a printed receipt)

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2.1

Research

The development of the project consisted of an iterative process in which various research methods were employed. My initial interest for the subject sprang from my personal issues with locking my bicycle. This led me to perform a short enquiry with a dozen or so acquaintances and colleagues, to see if the problem was more universal. It turned out that there was a demand for a different solution when it comes to bicycle security. Through several sketching iterations I explored the possible use contexts for the concept which led me to conclude that viable use scenarios would be instances in which the bicycle would be left unattended for a short amount of time. This would be particularly well suited for short stops at the grocery store or for professional usage, by people delivering goods by bicycle.

2.

THE CONVENIENT BICYCLE

The Convenient Bicycle was developed as an experiment aimed at exploring ways to simplify and naturalize the way we interact with everyday objects by imbuing them with ubiquitous technology. The concept consists of an electronic locking mechanism fixed to the front and back wheels, a microcontroller and RFID reader integrated in the saddle and a of RFID tags which are used by the owner of the bicycle to authenticate himself.

Figure 2: Visualization of the various use contexts in which the concept might be applicable.

Figure 1: Still image from the video prototype showing which

The RFID tags are washable and can be placed in the back pocket of the trousers, allowing the user to ubiquitously interface with the system. Upon mounting the bicycle the system is ubiquitously informed by the tag that the user is in fact the owner of the bicycle. When the kick-stand is pulled up, the system understands that the user is about to depart and automatically unlocks both locks, allowing the user to focus on the journey.

Several criteria for the proposed locking mechanism emerged from a co-design session with Baris Serim (a product designer). It became apparent that the mechanism should be reliable, light weight, be easy to operate while wearing gloves, while still allowing the owner to perform actions he would normally he would normally do, like lending his bicycle to a friend. By performing several interviews with local cycling enthusiasts at the living lab Fabriken, it was made apparent that the core quality of the concept was not rock solid security but that the concept sacrificed a measure of security in favor of added convenience of use. One suggestion that was made in the interviews was that by automatically locking the bicycle at both ends it would be impossible for potential thieves to simply lift one wheel of the ground and drive of with it.

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Figure 1: Prototype of the debit card shaped RFID tag used to operate the electronic locking system, indicating where the tag should be worn on the body.

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It proved to be a complex mechanical problem to make the locking module automated in a way that it would be tamper-proof, reliable and would still be easy to affix to the bicycle. For this reason I decided to only prototype the saddle using an Arduino I/O board and an RFID reader, and use simple, exposed solenoids to simulate the locks. Using the prototype I then went on to make a video prototype of the concept with two colleagues. When I asked for their reflection on the topic they informed me that they are convinced that the concept helps the user to save a lot of time, especially when using the bicycle to visit multiple places during the day. They could picture themselves using it in an everyday life context if the product was easy to install and it would cost no more than 500 Swedish crowns. One respondent answered that she favors convenience over security: Sometimes when I ride my bicycle to the store I dont lock it because I just need to make a quick purchase and it would actually take more time for me to lock and unlock my bike then it takes me to do the shopping, so I leave it (the bike) unlocked for the sake of saving time, but still Im a bit worried that it might get stolen. Still I choose to save time and leave the bicycle unlocked while trying to reduce the amount of time I spend in the store to a minimum.

Figure 3: Conceptual sketch of the concept depicting the individual components.

The rough product specification evolved through several design iterations into a system which embodies RFID (1) technology in the saddle for authentication and a potentiometer integrated in the joint of the kick stand to inform the system if the bicycle is in use or not and a pair of shielded solenoid-controlled locking modules (4 , 5) on the wheels as actuators. Another feature which could be integrated into the locking modules are lights (6) which are activated automatically by a light sensor (3) during the night when the bicycle is being used. Finally a semiworking version of the prototype was built.

2.2

Drawbacks and considerations

From the research it became clear that it is hard to unite convenience and security in a holistic solution. One respondent pointed out that an automated locking system can never be as safe as locking your bicycle to a fixed object using a sturdy chain lock since then the lock would have to be cut in public before the bicycle could be appropriated. It was also pointed out that the system needs to have a failsafe, like a physical key, to unlock the bicycle in case of a malfunction. One suggestion which was made that the lighting system, microcontroller and RFID reader could be solar powered if the bicycle was left outside, or that it could be charged by a dynamo. There was also a worry that the system might be too heavy to comfortable use, and that it would require regular maintenance. These considerations need to be accounted for in the next design iteration.

Figure 4: The main components as used in the Convenient Bicycle prototype, the microcontroller receives input from the RFID reader whenever the RFID tag comes close to it.

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2.3 Towards more intuitive modes of interaction

The Convenient Bicycle builds on the notion of flow by eliminating some of the laborious peripheral activities associated with cycling. On the conceptual level the purpose of the Convenient Bicycle is quite straight forward. The concepts aims to redefine the bicycle as an object exclusively used for (and by) cycling, by omitting the necessity of manually locking and unlocking. Attaining this type of interaction modality proves to be somewhat of a paradox in practice. On the one hand the system has to be ubiquitous enough not to bother the user with the hassle of locking and unlocking the bicycle by hand. On the other hand, it needs to be clear to the user that, and more importantly, when, the bicycle is locked automatically. This requires the system to visually or audibly communicate to the user (and arguably people in the vicinity) that the bicycle is about to be locked or unlocked. Furthermore it should be apparent to the user that the RFID tag needs to be worn on the body, in the back pocket of the trousers. This might be achieved by designing the tag in the shape of a trouser pocket or other suggestive design choices. For the prototype I used the key card shaped RFID tags which are made of a hard plastic material. In a real product these tags would have to be smaller and more flexible to be comfortable enough to carry around throughout the day.

added functionality by adding a layer of protection against thievery. On the syntactical level the system removes the burden of the chain of repetitive and arduous user actions that go together with locking the bicycle. No longer is it necessary to find your key, remember the code for your lock, bend over and strain your back, carry and store away your lock or even take of your gloves. On the lexical level it is important to consider not only how the bicycle communicates that it is locked or not, but that it is equipped with a lock in the first place. Not only the user should have an understanding that the safety of his bicycle is ensured, also passersby should be made aware that the bike is not just left unlocked up for grabs. It is a challenge to design a system that is aesthetically pleasing, does not jump too much to the eye of the user or other people in the vicinity, but still shows that the bicycle is firmly locked in place. This means that on the pragmatic level the locking modules on each wheel should hint at their function and their state (locked or unlocked) through their shape or color. Many traditional locks yield an audible thump upon closing, affirming that the lock is in fact locked. This might be desirable a desirable property as well for the Convenient Bicycle system.

2.4

Examples from the design field

The international design and innovation agency IDEO has a tradition of smart innovation. When commissioned to develop a new line of fishing products for youngsters they discovered that fishing requires a variety of tools and is not very accessible to beginners. Kelley (2001, pp. 51) describes: We went to stores and were struck with the frustrating complexity of fishing. Everything was sold separately: rods, reels, tackle and line. In the old days, Dad could ask the old-timer, behind the counter in the fishing store for help or information, but that wont work today at Wal-Mart. (Kelley, 2001, pp. 51)

Figure 5: Prototype of the debit card shaped RFID tag used to operate the electronic locking system, indicating where the tag should be worn on the body.

The semantics of the system are as subtle as possible. Simply put: the user uses the bicycle as he would use a regular bicycle, minus all the actions required for locking it before and after its use. In this sense the system tries to blend in with the object while offering

IDEO went on to develop a new type of fishing rod which had the reel integrated in the handle and held supporting gear like lures and bobbers in a connected storage compartment, combining all the essentials needed for fishing in one convenient item.

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Figure 6: IDEO developed the New Generation Fishing Reel combo for Berkley Outdoor Products: a low-cost, easy to use alternative to traditional rod-and-reel products which integrates rod, reel, bait, tackle and line in one product.

Another example of intuitive low-fi contextualized interactivity can be found in some contemporary snowboard jackets. Nowadays many ski lift systems employ an RFID enabled ski pass system which allows skiers to open the doors of the lift pods by swiping their pass over a sensor. Some of the snowboard jackets available on the market have specially designed ski lift pass holders on their sleeves. These ski lift pass holders, which are small transparent plastic pockets sewn into the fabric of one of the sleeves of the jacket, allow the wearer to place their ski lift pass inside. This allows the wearer to easily and quickly interact with the ski lift system without having to search his pockets or opening his jacket to find the pass. This wearable interface makes sense because its contextualized in a cold environment in which the interaction has to occur as quickly as possible (to prevent unnecessary queues).

3.

CONSIDERATIONS

I have discussed the Convenience Bicycle concept using Foley, et al.s (1982) proposed classification of interactivity to delineate the concept functionality on a conceptual, semantic, syntactic, lexical and pragmatic level. By evaluating two other projects on intuitive interaction I have touched on the potential for intuitive interfaces to merit everyday consumer products. Regarding my design process, I have discovered that it is important to do user testing early on in the design process to discover the core qualities and the applicability and feasibility of the concept. By performing several user tests and interviews the design focus of the project shifted from a purely security based approach to a more convenience oriented approach to bicycle usage.

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4.
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REFERENCES
Alan Cooper, 2007. About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design. 3rd Edition. Wiley. Anja Naumann, Jrn Hurtienne, Johann Habakuk Israel, Carsten Mohs, Martin Christof Kindsmller, Herbert A. Meyer, and Steffi Husslein. 2007. Intuitive use of user interfaces: defining a vague concept. In Proceedings of the 7th international conference on Engineering psychology and cognitive ergonomics (EPCE'07), Don Harris (Ed.). Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 128-136. Buxton, W. 1983. Lexical and Pragmatic Considerations of Input Structures. Computer Graphics, 17 (1), (1983) 31-37 Bill Buxton. 1983. LEXICAL AND PRAGMATIC CONSIDERATIONS OF INPUT STRUCTURES. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.billbuxton.com/lexical.html. [Accessed 21 November 11]. Foley, J. D. van Dam, A. 1982. Fundamentals of Computer Graphics. Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass. John Thackara, 2006. In the Bubble: Designing in a Complex World. The MIT Press Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, 1991. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. First Edition Edition. Harper Perennial. Tom Kelley, 2001. The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm. 1 Edition. Crown Business.

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IMAGES
Vincent Olislagers. (2011). The Convenient Bicycle - K3 Interaction Design. [Online Video]. 17 November. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I_Gk0As878. [Accessed: 20 November 2011]. Vincent Olislagers. (2011). The Convenient Bicycle Concept sketch. Vincent Olislagers. (2011). The Convenient Bicycle Concept sketch. Vincent Olislagers. (2011). The Convenient Bicycle Prototyping the experiment. Vincent Olislagers. (2011). The Convenient Bicycle Prototyping the experiment. IDEO, (1903), New Generation Fishing Reel Combo for Berkley [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.ideo.com/work/new-generationfishing-reel-combo [Accessed 20 November 11].

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