EXPLORING THE USE OF AMBIENT INFORMATION DISPLAYS Designing and Evaluating Informative Art

Abstract

The use of and interaction with computers does not necessarily have to look like it does today. This thesis explores a field of alternative views on what computers can look like and how they can be used, especially information displays. It gives an overview of the field of ubiquitous computing, a future research vision where computers exist everywhere around us. It also introduces the notion of calm technology and ambient displays, that focus on finding a more human way of presenting information. The practical work presented here involves the design and evaluation of an ambient display: informative art. Informative art is an information display that looks like a traditional painting, but displays information. Similar, to other ambient displays there are several concerns that affect the suitability as an information display. Several issues that are important to consider when trying to design and evaluate such displays are presented in this thesis. The results include lessons learned from related work, practical experience from designing and evaluating informative art. The results also involve concerns about readability, rate of change and degradation, as well as considerations on how to conduct a suitable evaluation on such displays.