Clarification on Ecological Psychology

and EmbodimentFebruary 25, 2004

Interface semantics

• Structuralism (semiotics)• “Affordances” (gestalt)

Sign = Sr + Sd(Structuralism)

• Linguistics• Saussure

Structuralism

• Admits values and history• All meaning is relative• Used in designing control, display and attention management

• Foundation for:– Post-Modernism– Critical Theory– Post-Structuralism

Gestalt / “Affordances”

• Gestalt psychology– Kurt Lewin– The whole is more than the sum of the parts

• Ecological psychology: a psychology of affordance– JJ Gibson– Door handle “wants” to be grasped

“Affordances”

• Does not admit values or history

• “Universals”• Mostly used for control aspects

Hold me

Pour me

Yank me

“Affordance”

Hold me

Pour me

Yank me

“Affordance”

2-stroke chainsaw engine says “Macho”

BlenderGreen plastic says outdoor power tool

Name says hard-drinkin’ at sporting events

Structuralism

Click this

Type here“Affordance”

Find everything

Click this

Type here“Affordance”

“We care”

“Official”

Structuralism

Find everything

Title or link?

What does this font say?

EmbodimentCreating interfaces that allow “FLOW”: loss of self-consciousness in the activity

Example: Soccer, skiing, writing

  

EmbodimentCreating interfaces that allow “FLOW”: loss of self-consciousness in the activity

Example: Soccer, skiing, writing

“EXPERTESE” may involve embodiment but is not embodiment.

  

EmbodimentCreating interfaces that allow “FLOW”: loss of self-consciousness in the activity

Example: Soccer, skiing, writing

“EXPERTESE” may involve embodiment but is not embodiment.

CSCW question: WHEN does the object say what and to WHOM? (Tony and the electric kettle)

  

Put on stove (oops)

Plug in

Pour Me