Data-Things: Digital Fabrication Situated within Participatory Data Translation Activities

Data-ThingsDigital Fabrication Situated within Participatory Data Translation Activities

Bettina Nissen | John Bowers

Culture Lab . School of Arts and Cultures . Newcastle University . UK

Data-Things

• Situated digital fabrication within shared, social data translation activities

• Encouraging reflection and conversation within specific contexts

• Receiving personal meaning through participants’ active involvement

Background

Trajectory

Situating fabrication within an exhibition trajectory as souvenir making activities to enrich audience experiences [Nissen et al.]

‘Social Fabrication’

as shared, public experience that stimulates conversation [Ogawa et al.]

Data as Material

Through personal data representations of physical activity this design space is opened out supporting the increasing research that will “print things from data” [Khot et al.]

Nissen, B., Bowers, J., Wright, P. et al. Volvelles, Domes and Wristbands: Embedding Digital Fabrication within a Visitor's Trajectory of Engagement. In Proc. DIS '14. ACM (2014). 825-834.Ogawa, H., Mara, M., Lindinger, C., et al. Shadowgram: A Case Study for Social Fabrication through Interactive Fabrication in Public Spaces. In Proc. TEI’12. ACM (2012). 57-60.Khot, R., Hjorth, L. and Mueller, F. Understanding Physical Activity through 3D Printed Material Artifacts. In Proc. CHI '14. ACM (2014). 3835-3844.

Background

Trajectory

Situating fabrication within an exhibition trajectory as souvenir making activities to enrich audience experiences [Nissen et al.]

‘Social Fabrication’

as shared, public experience that stimulates conversation [Ogawa et al.]

Data as Material

Through personal data representations of physical activity this design space is opened out supporting the increasing research that will “print things from data” [Khot et al.]

Nissen, B., Bowers, J., Wright, P. et al. Volvelles, Domes and Wristbands: Embedding Digital Fabrication within a Visitor's Trajectory of Engagement. In Proc. DIS '14. ACM (2014). 825-834.Ogawa, H., Mara, M., Lindinger, C., et al. Shadowgram: A Case Study for Social Fabrication through Interactive Fabrication in Public Spaces. In Proc. TEI’12. ACM (2012). 57-60.Khot, R., Hjorth, L. and Mueller, F. Understanding Physical Activity through 3D Printed Material Artifacts. In Proc. CHI '14. ACM (2014). 3835-3844.

First study

Conference Tweets as Data-Things

individual’s tweets with the

hashtag #TDC14


Exploring how online social interactions could be translated into physical forms to encourage offline conversations

overall amount of tweets with

the same hashtag

Twitter username translates tweet data into digitally generated data-thing which was

then 3D printed in situ


Wearable ‘clip’ design as a suitable companion to conference material as well as

visual clues for conversation


“I’m not very good at talking to people at conferences if I don’t know anyone but this [shape] gave me something to talk to people about and start a conversation.”


“It’s good that it’s abstract so you can make up your own interpretation”


“Our awesome (and unique) 3d printed clip is now installed on our documentation. Thanks”


Second study

Craft Movements as Data-Things


Smith, T., Bowen, S., Nissen, B., Hook, J., Verhoeven, A., Bowers, J., Wright, P., Olivier, P. Exploring Gesture Sonification to Support Reflective Craft Practice. In Proc. CHI'2015, ACM (2015)


Sensor attached to the end of the crochet hook to stream movement data


Initial translations of movement data into thread engravings were questioned “Why doesn’t it look more like crochet?”


Concentric graph translations showing movement data more legibly while still

adapting some of the craft aesthetics of crochet patterns


“I was thinking about my crochet, I do keep my hands quite still and quite close

and that’s maybe why it [the shape] is kind of quite narrow”


Data being visibly captured on screen while crochet is performed


Participants laser cutting their designed shapes


“Going through the whole process of seeing it happening, seeing the difference, how it looked on screen, deciding and then printing [laser cutting]. So it feels like it kind of has more meaning.”

“it represented me struggling and (more or less) succeeding to learn a skill I'd always admired and associated with my granny and mum...I like that it visualises a tradition and is written in secret crochet code and placed on my mantel piece for me to feel proud of”


Joining the Threads

1. Data Translation as Meaning Making

• Relationship between the active involvement in the translation of data and the meaning invested in the artefacts

• Participation in data generation, translation and fabrication processes enriches participants’ opportunities for meaning making

• Balance between meaningful data engagement and a level of ambiguity

• Stimulating future uses and meaning that is mindful to the specific needs of the context

2. Situating Data in a Trajectory of Use

• Data is not a fixed but a malleable medium open to interpretation,

translation and use

• Active role of the participant in the making of the artefact and its meaning

• Recognising our subjective role in the design of data translations

3. From Data Materialisation to Data Translation

We speculate on the possibility of ‘hybrid practices which combine craftwork with research practice’ in novel ways.

4. From Mutual Curiosity to Hybrid Research Practices

We speculate on the possibility of ‘hybrid practices which combine craftwork with research practice’ in novel ways.

4. From Mutual Curiosity to Hybrid Research Practices

Data-Things receive meaning through the participation in a shared making process, more specifically the data translation and fabrication processes

5. Data-Things

In Conclusion

Data-Things

• Situated in shared, social data translation and fabrication activities

• Encouraging reflection and conversation within their contexts

• Receiving their personal meaning through participants active involvement

Thank you very much.

With additional thanks to our colleagues

Andrew Garbett . Tom Smith . Gavin Wood | Culture Lab . Newcastle University

Arno Verhoeven | University of Edinburgh

Bettina Nissen | Culture Lab . Newcastle University

[email protected] | @bettinanissen | www.data-things.com

Design

Data-Things: Digital Fabrication Situated within Participatory Data Translation Activities