The Wearables

Analogous to the garment in the explorative Journey setting, the test persons in the Periphery work environment were given a piece of clothing. Since they should be able to work undisturbed and move freely, this wearable was limited to a cap. Functionality determined the design: the classic cap is easy to take on and off, just as it is simple to adjust its size. Additionally, the red color of the cap allowed for chroma position tracking of the respective participant via a camera mounted centrally above the working space. The electronics (see Development) were attached to the outside of the cap in a circle. The same applied to the collection of pulse and GSR data: the Empatica E4 sensor wristband also fited comfortably like a watch and thus didn’t disturb.

red hat with electronic devices
E4 wristband

The Office Room

The workspace roughly adapted to the geometric design of Journey and was designed as an exploded hexagon. The staged office space was designed low-key and composed of classic office furniture and some plants. It was shaped by partition walls and curtains that allowed the participants to isolate without losing audible connectivity with the rest of the media lab. The office space was divided into a work area and a rest area, offering different work modes. The work area consisted of a table, a table lamp, and an office chair and the rest area of a small sofa and a little sideboard. The technical output devices (actuators) of the ambient information system were subtly woven into the work environment. Colored light of three longitudinal RGBW LED lamps was reflected by the white partition walls and the table lamp was also accessible for data representation. Sound came from three speakers fixed to the partition walls but was also perceivable through vibration by contact speakers mounted underneath the table and the sofa. A ventilator placed on the floor was also technically controllable to emit information via airstream. To shift the perception of environmental information from the periphery to the center of participant attention, the activities of the technical devices faded in and out, transforming from incidental office furniture to tools of data representation.</span></p>

ground floor with positions of furniture and actuators
test person at desk in work area
test person at desk in rest area
test person at desk in work area
spatial overview of experimental setting

The Ambient Information System

The focus of the design was on the Ambient Information System (AIS), the data mapping choreography, on how the measured sensor values are translated into physically mediated and spatially integrated representations. We iteratively developed and tested two different types of data representations.

The first type was causally recognizable feedback, displaying measured signals in real-time. It was applied to signals of physical motion and biodata measurements and therefore an indicator of physical activity and somatic (possibly psychophysiological) reactions of the participants. We used it to generate participants› awareness of physical and psychological reactions to different work processes.

The second type of ambient data was based on atmospheric compositions that built up or degraded over time: Weather sounds built up over time in the work area, while slowly decaying music sounded in the rest area. These changes were based on long-term behaviors of the participants, such as sitting still for a longer period. They were not intended to provide direct feedback, but to proactively influence or even patronize participants.

You can find a detailed description of the data mapping choreography in this PDF.