Understanding Creative Interaction: A Conceptual Framework for Use in the Design of Interactive Systems for Creative Activities Tim Coughlan A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Bath Department of Computer Science September 2009 COPYRIGHT Attention is drawn to the fact that copyright of this thesis rests with its author. A copy of this thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with the author and they must not copy it or use material from it except as permitted by law or with the consent of the author. This thesis may be made available for consultation within the University Library and may be photocopied or lent to other libraries for the purposes of consultation. 1 Table of Contents Part 1: Introduction ......................................................................................10 1.1 : Overview ........................................................................................................... 11 1.1.1 : Research Contribution................................................................................ 14 1.1.2 : Thesis Outline ............................................................................................ 15 1.2 : Research Questions and Objectives ................................................................. 16 1.2.1 : Research Questions................................................................................... 16 1.2.2 : Research Objectives .................................................................................. 16 Part 2: Background ......................................................................................18 2.1 : Understanding Creativity and Creative Processes............................................ 19 2.1.1 : Defining Creativity ...................................................................................... 19 2.1.2 : Understanding Creative Processes............................................................ 22 2.1.3 : General Characteristics of the Creative Process ....................................... 24 2.1.4 : Conclusions................................................................................................ 29 2.2 : Human – Human Interaction and Creativity ...................................................... 31 2.2.1 : The Social Nature of Creativity................................................................... 32 2.2.2 : Forms of Human Interaction in Creative Activities ..................................... 33 2.2.3 : Conclusions................................................................................................ 39 2.3 : How Creativity is Supported.............................................................................. 40 2.3.1 : A Brief History of the Effects of Technological Shifts in Music Creation .... 40 2.3.2 : Idea Representation ................................................................................... 43 2.3.3 : Structure and Constraint ............................................................................ 45 2.3.4 : Experiential Needs ..................................................................................... 46 2.3.5 : Conclusions................................................................................................ 47 2.4 : Human-Computer Interaction and Creativity..................................................... 48 2.4.1 : Characteristics of Computers as Tools for Creativity ................................. 48 2.4.2 : Paradigms for Technological Support in Creative Activities....................... 50 2.4.3 : Practical Research in the Design of Computer Tools for Creative Interaction .............................................................................................................................. 53 2.4.4 : Personal Information Management ............................................................ 57 2.4.5 : Computer-Supported Cooperative Work .................................................... 60 2.4.6 : End-User Development .............................................................................. 62 2.4.7 : Conclusions................................................................................................ 65 2.5 : Designing Interactive Systems.......................................................................... 66 2.5.1 : Software Engineering ................................................................................. 66 2.5.2 : Task-Artefact Cycle .................................................................................... 67 2.5.3 : User-Centred Interaction Design................................................................ 68 2.5.4 : Conclusions: Developing Usable Findings for the Design of Interactive Systems................................................................................................................. 70 Part 3: Research Performed ........................................................................72 3.1 : Issues in the Study of Creativity and Support for Creativity .............................. 73 3.1.1 : Understanding and Measuring Creativity ................................................... 73 3.1.2 : The General and Specific Nature of Creativity ........................................... 75 3.1.3 : Bounding Creativity .................................................................................... 76 3.1.4 : Myths and Image Creation by Creative Practitioners ................................. 76 3.2 : Studies Performed and Methods Used ............................................................. 78 3.2.1 : Overview of Studies Performed.................................................................. 78 3.2.2 : Observational Studies ................................................................................ 78 3.2.3 : Open Questionnaire Study ......................................................................... 87 3.2.4 : Participatory Task Modelling / Participatory Design Sessions ................... 88 3.2.5 : Prototype Design and Evaluation Studies .................................................. 94 3.2.6 : Critical Review of the Analysis and Presentation of this Research ............ 97 2 Part 4: Findings ..........................................................................................101 4.1 : Overview of the Research Findings.................................................................102 4.1.1 : Introduction to the Findings ......................................................................102 4.1.2 : Development of the Framework................................................................103 4.1.3 : Overall Summary of the Analyses ............................................................107 4.1.4 : Common Structure of the Findings Chapters ...........................................116 4.2 : Productive Interaction ......................................................................................117 4.2.1 : Definition and Scope.................................................................................117 4.2.2 : Findings from the Empirical Studies .........................................................117 4.2.3 : Model of Productive Interaction ................................................................135 4.2.4 : Contextual Factors....................................................................................137 4.2.5 : Design Study: Sonic Sketchpad ...............................................................143 4.2.6 : Designing Support for Productive Interaction ...........................................153 4.2.7 : Conclusions ..............................................................................................157 4.3 : Structural Interaction........................................................................................158 4.3.1 : Definition and Scope.................................................................................158 4.3.2 : Findings from the Empirical Studies .........................................................159 4.3.3 : Model of Structural Interaction..................................................................170 4.3.4 : Contextual Factors....................................................................................172 4.3.5 : Design Study: Music Builder.....................................................................177 4.3.6 : Designing Support for Structural Interaction.............................................189 4.3.7 : Conclusions ..............................................................................................193 4.4 : Longitudinal Interaction....................................................................................195 4.4.1 : Definition and Scope.................................................................................195 4.4.2 : Findings from the Empirical Studies .........................................................195 4.4.3 : Model of Longitudinal Interaction..............................................................206 4.4.4 : Contextual Factors....................................................................................208 4.4.5 : Design Study: The Associative Scrapbook...............................................211 4.4.6 : Designing Support for Longitudinal Interaction.........................................233 4.4.7 : Conclusions ..............................................................................................236 Part 5: Conclusions....................................................................................237