Fragile and Magical: Computational Technology as Design Material

Paper in proceeding, 2005

Computational technology is, in interaction design practice, not just a medium providing neutral technical implementations; it is an expressive design material. In all design practice we need to understand and know how to handle our basic means of expression. The purpose of this paper is to sketch the outline of a methodology for describing and defining basic expressional properties of computational technology. Through stories of interaction, and on basis of these stories we outline exercises aiming at a methodology for aesthetic practice – in interaction design practice as well as in interaction design teaching.