Hidden Interfaces for Ambient Computing and Little Signals

I found the article about hidden interfaces for ambient computing to provide interesting information as to how we might begin to make better develop an environment using ambient technology. The article reminded me of one of my phone cases that uses lights to display the time or an icon of some sort when I close the screen to show the time or notify me. front Black

I didn’t really consider before how similar technology might be applied in another method. The idea of hidden interfaces really fascinated me because of how this use of lights can be used to allow various substances to become a display. Personally, I think that’s pretty cool because of how that means that we can find the details and notifications we usually use our phones for in the context of normal objects, such as shelves or tables. In the context of our project and ambient technology, the use of these PMOLED can turn any surface into a piece of technology, that we can then use as an alternative to the screen on our phone. But then I have to ask what defines a screen, a display that shows a glimpse into software or a medium of interaction between the person and the software.

When reading about Google’s little signals, I think they explanation of calm technology and finding calm helped me understand the other notifications of the world. As I went through each one of the little signals, I saw this idea of calm in how the devices translate the words we read on notification to appeal to our senses in other ways.

I think my favorite, and a good example of this would be Air. While the notifications on our phones grasps our attention using bright colors and text, I think it is interesting to see how this device simplifies it to a simple movement, a movement that is only visible in its interaction with nearby object. I think that makes it truly ambient in its way to become a part of our environment. 

Little Signals | The Dots

I think these devices inspire me in forcing me to consider how I can take advantage of the physical space of the object in context of it’s surroundings to make my device more ambient. In my current idea, I believe that I may be adding too much to the internal details of the device, but perhaps I should consider how the details that would make the device less of an addition to the phone, but an addition to the environment. 

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