Giovanni Maria Troiano, John Tiab, Youn-Kyung Lim, NordiCHI '16
Summary
This paper reviews 340 Sci-Fi movies to identify shape-changing instances and understand their behavioral patterns. Among 240 movies, 61 movies contain 101 shape-changing instances in total. Two authors analyze the instances using affinity diagram, inspired by thematic analysis [1]. They reveal behavioral patterns and functionalities as follows (The higher classification is called pattern, and the lower classification is called functionality):
- "Reconfiguration expresses the capacity of a SCI to change in formation or to reconfigure its structure."
- Assembling / Disassembling
- Reshaping Environments
- Revealing Interactive Parts
- "Transformation expresses the capacity of a SCI to change in form and in appearance."
- Camouflage
- Morphing
- "Adaptation expresses the capacity of SCI to adjust their shape, so as to fulfill users' needs or adapt to specific situations."
- Finding the Intended Shape
- Expanding
- Reversing Shape
- "Physicalization expresses the capacity of a SCI of extruding shapes from its surface to physicalize digital information or to ultimately generate physical matter."
- Representation
- Materialization
Method and Tools
- code shape-changing instances in the movies [coded data]
- cross check if there are missed instances by fast playing movies (with Chrome Video Speed Controller plug-in and PotPlayer)
- make affinity diagram (Mural.ly). The authors go through 5 iterations, and it took 2~3 weeks
What I like
- The paper is very well structured and easy to read.
- The method has academic background, and took enough time and iteraction
- The figures well help understand what they explain in the text.
Questions
- What was the tool to code video?
- Number of instances per pattern and functionality
- I think this paper can extend Joelle Coutaz's plasticity definition, especially its purposes: to fit into environment; to fit to users; to fit the task performed.
Further to read
1. Soegaard, M. and Dam, R.F. 2011. Semi-structured Qualitative Studies. In The Encyclopedia of Human- Computer Interaction (2nd Ed.). The Interaction Design Fundation.