Eva Hornecker

Jenny Carolina Gonzalez Acuna, Franziska Gerlach, Michael Pannier, Daniel Pollack, Ingo Schäfer, Josephine Trautmann

Prof. Dr. Eva Hornecker, Patrick-Tobias Fischer

Summer semester 2013

Faculty:
Architecture and Urbanism,
Media

Degree programme:
MediaArchitecture (Master of Science (M.Sc.)),
Computer Science and Media (Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.))

Students of Computer Science and Media and Media Architecture have developed »Kick-Flickable Interfaces«, man-machine interfaces that transforms kicks, bumps, or other contact with the foot into sounds and light signals. The interfaces should later be installed and used for recreational purposes in large public places.

The students first researched how people behaved in public places: group dynamics, people's willingness to experiment and the urge to play were key components. Through so-called Bodystorming, the students wanted to find out how different objects worked with the foot. Therefore, they tested what things can be pulled, lifted, pushed and kicked with a foot.

The Media Architecture students developed organic styrodur prototypes. To fill them with life, the Computer Science and Media team elicited which input and output options were available within these interfaces.

The sky is the limit, the human foot should not be the only item that interacts with the figures, even the shapes should "communicate" with each other. The different elements should, like individual characters react almost emotionally. Each form having a separate output. For example, touch two of them and they blink faster or produce a specific sound. Passersby should playfully interact with the figures – poke them, be amazed and experiment.