Programmable light bulbs, talking stereo systems, and trackable key rings: these are just a few examples of ordinary objects that come to life through their connection to the Internet. They are constantly listening for sounds, sights and touches to translate into meaningful inputs, and respond immediately with choreographed lights, tones and movements. Some have the ability to learn, refining their behaviors over time. Others can provide reports on usage and make suggestions about efficient use.
As people continue to interact with products like these in all aspects of life, they will expect their digital devices to deliver real-time, visualized, networked feedback. While the emergent Internet of Things presents a juicy opportunity to pioneer new products, it also can backfire, filling people’s lives with more frustrations over technology than ever before.
In this talk, Carla Diana, who designs robotic devices and smart objects, will discuss the opportunities and the challenges that come with designing interactive hardware/software products and ecosystems through a series of case studies and design experiences that highlight the human aspects of product design.
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Carla Diana
@carladiana_
is a designer, author and educator who explores the impact of future technologies through hands-on experiments in product design and tangible interaction. She has designed a range of products from robots to connected home appliances, and her designs have appeared on the covers of Popular Science, Technology Review and the New York Times Sunday Review. She is a faculty member in the Integrated Product Design program at the University of Pennsylvania where she has created some of the country’s first courses on designing smart objects, and an ongoing collaborator with the Socially Intelligent Machines Lab at the University of Texas, Austin, where advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are manifest in expressive robots. She writes and lectures frequently on the social impact of robotics and emerging technology and created the world’s first children’s book on 3D printing, LEO the Maker Prince. Her seminal essay, "Talking, Walking Objects", is a good representation of her view of our connected, robotic future. Carla holds a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the Cooper Union and an M.F.A. in 3D Design from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her website is www.carladiana.com.