Tangible and Ambient Interaction for Process Automation
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Mälardalens högskola - Akademin för innovation, design och teknik, Västerås |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 500 000 |
| Project duration | December 2014 - June 2015 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Strategic innovation programme for process industrial IT and automation – PiiA |
Purpose and goal
The aim of the project was to survey the state-of-the-art for tangible and ambient user interface (TAUI) and to develop design proposals for control to improve the ability of operators. The project has met the objectives. We have surveyed the state-of-the-art within TAUI, explored the conditions for the introduction of TAUI in process automation as well as design proposals for how TAUI can be used within automated process industry.
Results and expected effects
We have done a technology study, three user studies and workshops, and developed the concept of how TAUI can be applied. Based on operators´ feelings, we have found support for how TAUI can be used. Furthermore, existing systems can be significantly improved by the known design principles. Published ´Design to engage: embodied information in control rooms´ at Vision Plus 2015 http://www.visionplus2015.info/proceedings/ Sound Collage of acoustic ambience in the existing control room environment: https://soundcloud.com/rikardlindell/tapia-burn-british-garbage
Approach and implementation
The project began with design workshops where we devised basic design proposals. The idea was born to examine the emotional conditions for TAUI in process automation, because this design process began based on a consensus view of the situation in control rooms. We conducted an ethnographic study, combined with the interview and fotoelicitation. A team has continued working on the design proposals through user studies and workshops with operators from the automated process industry.