record

Thesis Info

LABS ID
00426
Thesis Title
A design-led approach for transferring the embodied skills of puppet stop-motion animators into haptic workspaces
Author
Mariza Dima
2nd Author
3rd Author
Degree
PhD
Year
2013
Number of Pages
209
University
The University of Edinburgh
Thesis Supervisor
Prof John Lee
Supervisor e-mail
j.lee AT ed.ac.uk
Other Supervisor(s)
Dr Mark Wright
Language(s) of Thesis
mark.wright AT ed.ac.uk
Department / Discipline
Edinburgh College of Art
Languages Familiar to Author
English, Greek
URL where full thesis can be found
Keywords
haptics, animation, stop-motion, user interface design, HCI, experiential design, embodied cognition,
Abstract: 200-500 words
This design-led research investigates the transfer of puppet stop-motion animators’ embodied skills from the physical workspace into a digital environment. The approach is to create a digital workspace that evokes an embodied animating experience and allows puppet stop-motion animators to work in it unencumbered. The insights and outcomes of the practical explorations are discussed from the perspective of embodied cognition. The digital workspace employs haptic technology, an advanced multi-modal interface technology capable of invoking the tactile, kinaesthetic and proprioceptive senses. The overall aim of this research is to contribute, to the Human-Computer Interaction design community, design considerations and strategies for developing haptic workspaces that can seamlessly transfer and accommodate the rich embodied knowledge of non-digital skillful practitioners. Following an experiential design methodology, a series of design studies in collaboration with puppet stop-motion animators led to the development of a haptic workspace prototype for producing stop-motion animations. Each design study practically explored the transfer of different aspects of the puppet stop-motion animation practice into the haptic workspace. Beginning with an initial haptic workspace prototype, its design was refined in each study with the addition of new functionalities and new interaction metaphors which were always developed with the aim to create and maintain an embodied animating experience. The method of multiple streams of reflection was proposed as an important design tool for identifying, understanding and articulating design insights, empirical results and contextual considerations throughout the design studies. This thesis documents the development of the haptic workspace prototype and discusses the collected design insights and empirical results from the perspective of embodied cognition. In addition, it describes and reviews the design methodology that was adopted as an appropriate approach towards the design of the haptic workspace prototype.