For my final blog post of the first semester of my Master’s degree, I decided to dive into a Google experiment called Little Signals.1 As it is a design study on how to take the principles of Calm Technology and use them in my belief in its core strength. To materialise the digital and visualise the analog. The study consists of a series of six objects that convert or transform digital information using natural patterns or subtle analogue cues. The basis for this project was the belief of experts that all the alarms and high-level cues in our digitalised environment are a constant source of stress that has a negative effect on our psyche.2 Little Signals seeks to reduce this cognitive load by making our interactions with the digital world more harmonious, more human, less intrusive and more integrated into our natural environment. It does this in a variety of ways, as illustrated below.
Little Signals
Air
Air is an object that can communicate by emitting a pulse of air from its top nozzle and by rotating the nozzle. By placing it next to a plant, wind chime or any object that can be easily made to move, it creates subtle cues for whatever you set it to do.
Button
One of the more powerful signals is the button. It can indicate a status by rising and falling, and pulsate up and down to show an active task. The button can be pressed down or twisted left and right to activate a response to a signal received by the user. In addition to these functions, it can also emit sounds to enhance the importance of a signal.
Movement
Movement is a signal working with the motion of seven individual rods. These rods can rise and descend alone or in combination with the others. Its primary use case is to graphically visualise information, such as a timer or calendar, for example. All of the rods also function as buttons to trigger interactions, such as starting the timer.
Rhythm
For clearer audio signals, there is It is an ambient speaker that creates different melodies. Through this composition, important and urgent information, as well as the notification itself, are conveyed. To acknowledge a notification, a simple hand wave over the object is sufficient. To put the device on mute or in standby mode, simply flip it upside down.
Shadow
Shadow is one of the most subtle signals in the series. It creates cues by casting shadows of varying sizes onto the ground. By changing the orientation or size of its main body, different shadow signals can be transmitted, indicating varying levels of importance. It is important to maintain a clear and logical structure in the presentation of information. Even continuous information can be represented visually by creating a breathing-like changing shadow.
Tap
Tap is more of a reminder signal than an active notification. It works best with an additional surface on which it can tap, However, it can also function independently by waving or rotating its pole around itself or its base. One of the best use cases for this technology is as a reminder. By tapping on the object that needs to be remembered, the user can easily recall it. Exampolary like shown in the video above to remember the user to take its medication in their morning routine.
Outlook
Similar to this Google project, the outlook of my design & research theme of Calm Technology is to bring its principles and potentials into the real world through objects and applications. So from now on I want to transform my collected knowledge into a series of small artefacts or ways of materialising the digital and visualising the analog. Then to test and explore these methods or objects in real-world scenarios through self-experimentation and controlled user-testing with other students in my year. In this way I hope to gain a more practical and deeper understanding of the topic and its applications in projects and my work. Maybe Little Signals will even be the starting point for this upcoming journey, as it is an open source project with the invitation to try, collaborate and improve it.
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