UNDERSTANDING AFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT AS A RESOURCE IN INTERACTION DESIGN BY JONAS FRITSCH CENTER FOR DIGITAL URBAN LIVING DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA STUDIES AARHUS UNIVERSITY TEL: +45 89429282
[email protected] This paper proposes affective engagement as a an understanding of the relationship between humans and digital technology (1997). Winograd argues that this possible resource when designing interactive change is necessary since people are living with the environments. The notion of affect and affective technologies in what he terms “interspaces” (1997, p, experience as developed by Brian Massumi in 161). This calls for a design practice based on a dynamic understanding of the developments in digital cultural theory is presented as a theoretical possibilities, human needs, and situated social as well as foundation for conceptualizing experience in physical contexts (Thackara 2001). Consequently, interaction design. In particular, it is shown how interaction design needs to continually revise and develop new theoretical, analytical and practical tools Massumi provides a non-informational contributing to broaden the understanding of the world understanding of affect as distinct from emotions. and the people the design is aimed for. Traditionally based on a theoretical foundation from Instead, Massumi offers a processual and relational cognitive psychology and the work setting as a starting account of affective experience as a part of point for the design practice, interaction design is today dynamic events of becoming. Through an analysis experimenting with new theoretical foundations and interaction forms uncovering new contexts of use to be of the interactive installation Touched Echoes, the explored and designed for (Dourish 2001, McCarthy & concept of affective engagement is introduced to Wright 2004).