Curious-Action Speakers
by Rob Tieben

interactive speakers that elicit repetitive curiosity in public spaces.
Design study during PlayFit project by Rob Tieben.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Six interactive speakers with an embedded webcam that transform action into sound output. Using this installation, several interaction scenarios were implemented and evaluated, e.g. when someone would walk through a corridor and pass the speakers, then he/she would hear sounds from each speaker.

The Curious-Action speakers were evaluated in several iterations; first, in informal evaluations in our university, followed by a week long evaluation in another university. All five interaction scenarios elicited curiosity and exploration in different ways, and with varying levels of success. For our goal, target group and context, three curiosity principles showed to be especially powerful: novelty, complexity and uncertainty.

SCENARIO

Wouter and Mark walk through the school to their next lesson. Wouters mentions “Look, what are those?” He walks closer to a speaker, and suddenly a disturbed cow boos. Laughing, Mark walks to another speaker, and discovers a scared chicken. Together, they walk onward, scaring animals while they walk by.