Teaching

Our bodies are ripe with the potential to express and perceive, but aspects of our physical selves are often ignored by the devices and communication systems that we use. Even as our technologies become smaller and more versatile, we find ourselves bending down towards our keyboards and screens, and much of what we communicate with our bodies gets lost in translation. In Thinking Physically, we will work to open ourselves back up and embrace the rich capabilities and inherent expressiveness of the human form. Starting with the body itself, we’ll think about how it works and take a brief look at motion studies and biomechanics. Next, we’ll examine how we use our bodies to relate to each other, considering physical social perceptions, proxemics, and cultural contexts. We will then work to become better listeners, striving to sense the subtleties of body language, gesture, and nonverbal communication. Finally, it’s time to put those listening skills to work, designing interfaces that perceive the body’s communicative nature and encourage people to interact in a more physical way. Thinking Physically is a hands-on workshop in which we will get up and move. Students will create experiments and prototypes (both conceptual and technical) in response to weekly topics and design a body-centric final project based on what they’ve learned. Curated uses of the body (dance, physical comedy, sports, etc.), will act as inspiration, but students will focus on the everyman as the target user for the projects they create. With a toolbox of sensors, wearable techniques, and rugged interfaces in hand, we will capture and provoke full-bodied expression. By acknowledging and extending the body’s impact, we will create projects that appeal to the whole physical self.

Weekly Topics:

Week 1 – Introduction: Why Bodies Matter

Week 2 – How the Body Works: Proprioception, Motion Studies, Body as a Mechanical System

Week 3 – Body Context: Proxemics, Environment, and Cultural Gaze

Week 4 – Affordances: Body Meets World

Week 5 – Nonverbal Communication: Talking With Our Bodies

Week 6 – Interpreting Gesture: Designing for Intuitive Interactions

Week 7 – Whole Body Interfaces: Body as Controller

Week 8 – On the Body: Embedding Sensors in Clothing and Gathering Information From On Board

Week 9 – Around the Body: Using Video Sensing to Identify Parts, Actions, and Location in Space

Week 10 – Body History/Body Memory: Logging, Interpreting, and Displaying Body Data

Week 11 – Networked Bodies: Sharing Data Over Distance

Week 12 – Body Technology: Assistance and Invasion

Week 13 – Final Project Workshop

Week 14 – Final Projects

Readings

The Human Figure in Motion – Eadweard Muybridge (Motion)
The Way We Work – David Macaulay
Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique – Michael J. Gelb
Bodies of Modernity – Tamara Garb (Gaze)
Disembodied Lady – Oliver Saks (Proprioception)
The Theory of Affordances – James Gibson
Affordances, Conventions and Design – Donald Norman
Hidden Dimension – Edward T. Hall (Proxemics)
Body Art/Performing the Subject – Amelia Jones

Observations:

Students will be required and encouraged to conduct ongoing observations related to weekly topics. These notes will be reported via Twitter and aggregated and displayed on the class blog.

Weekly Experiments and Documentation:

Each week students are required to complete an “experiment” in response to that week’s topic. These experiments can take the form of a physical prototype or a designed experience. Specific parameters will provided each week. Documentation is due prior to the start of the next class in the form of an online blog post.

Midterm Presentations:

There is no midterm project. Instead, students will present a portfolio of weekly experiments done in the first 7 weeks of class that will act as inspiration for the final project.

Final Project:

Students will create a final project of their choosing.

Participation & Attendance:

This class in extremely participatory in nature. Be present, prompt, and prepared. Your attendance and timeliness affect your grade. Class begins 9:30AM sharp, so plan to arrive at ITP early so you have time to set up and settle in. Don’t miss class. If you MUST miss a class, let me know well in advance. If you have an emergency, please let me know as soon as you can afterward.

Grading:

Participation & Attendance: 20%
Weekly Experiments: 40%
Documentation: 10%
Final Project: 30%

Laptops and Cellphones:

Cellphones should be off when you enter the room. Please keep them tucked away during class. Computer use is prohibited during discussions or when a fellow classmate is speaking. Computers may be used at other times for quick reference, when presenting, or for taking notes. If using your computer, please keep your activities restricted to that which relates to the class- all chats, email, and other work should be closed. If it inhibits your ability to participate in conversation, please take notes on paper and keep the lid closed.

Guest Stars:

The Thinking Physically Guest Stars each come bearing a unique, specialized perspective on one of the topics we’ll be covering in class. Their visits will range from short talks to demonstrations to in-class workshops. If you’d like to recommend anyone else who should stop by, let me know!