[IxDA Discuss] "Elements of Interaction Design"

[Jonas Löwgren]

Dave said:
> A great example of aesthetics of interaction design for MRI (or other
> Cat Scan equipment) was the work that won Philips Design.
> http://www.idsa.org/idea/idea2005/g613.htm

I am not sure I understand the brief description on the web page  
correctly, but my interpretation is that the personalized multimedia  
environment glosses over the MRI machine and distracts the patient,  
while the machine is in itself unchanged by the proposed design.

If that is correct, then I am not sure I would call it a great  
example of aesthetics in interaction design.

"Great" could have been to find a way to make the machine's operation  
and the captured MRI data part of the multimedia environment before,  
during and after the scan, to address the roots of scariness and  
claustrophobia (which I assume in part to consist in unfamiliarity,  
the threatening opaque-ness of the machine and its actions) through  
empowerment rather than trying to hide them.

Jonas Löwgren

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Arts and Communication
Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, Sweden

phone +46 7039 17854
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