Physicality in the Design and Development of Computer Embedded Products

Computers have become commonplace in our daily lives; they are embedded within so many products that they have largely become invisible. Furthermore, computers are used to aid in the design of those products and it is possible for the entire design process to be performed digitally. But humans are physical beings; evolved to have an innate understanding of the physical world. In contrast, this digital world is very new. This research is an exploration of physicality in relation to the design and development of computer embedded products. Physicality is loosely defined for this thesis as the physical aspects or qualities of both an object and its interaction; this includes our physical bodies in relation to that object. The physical manifestations, or prototypes, used during the design of computer embedded products need to appear responsive to a user’s action. These prototypes can be made interactive through embedding electronics within the prototype or ‘faking’ the interaction.