Touchy-feely toasters

Originally published on spiked. Designers and scientists are eager to place emotions at the centre of products and computing. International conferences organise around incorporating emotion into all aspects of design (1). Academics are devoted to researching ‘funology’ – ‘a body of knowledge about fun’: building enjoyment into our lives through design (2). Scientists are developing […]

Continue Reading

Computing communities

Originally published on spiked. A new report published by the Work Foundation, You Don’t Know Me But…: Social Capital and Social Software, argues that information technology can improve social cohesion. The report’s author, William Davies, hopes that new, technology-based tools can assist in rebuilding people’s social relationships – with other individuals, with institutions and with governments. […]

Continue Reading

Leonardo made limited

Originally published on spiked. In his new book Leonardo’s Laptop: Human Needs and the New Computing Technologies, design guru Ben Shneiderman calls upon us to consider Leonardo da Vinci’s achievements in combining mastery of art with scientific exploration. In his new book Leonardo’s Laptop: Human Needs and the New Computing Technologies, design guru Ben Shneiderman calls upon […]

Continue Reading