Internship at Mobile Life Centre, Stockholm.
October-December 2009
Coach: Ylva Fernaeus, Mattias Jacobsson
Internship report

In this internship at the Mobile Life Centre, I worked on the actDresses project: programming by means of physical accessories. Through various design and evaluation iterations, on several robotic platforms, novel ways of programming robotic devices have been explored. Metaphors from comics and fashion have been used, resulting in a better understanding of the end-user programming principles. A video submission has been submitted and accepted to HRI2010, and a long conference paper is being written at the moment.

The approach followed was explorative: starting from a quick literature review, different principles of programming and controlling robots were embodied and evaluated. Paper prototypes, glowbots (small robots) and the Roomba vacuum cleaner robot were used as platform. Videos of the explorations can be viewed in this vimeo album; my thought process is reported in this blog.

Result – roomba flags & clothes

video explanation

In the final exploration iteration, the Roomba programming was further developed. Controlling the robot was divided in two segments: first of all, movement characteristics, such as ‘evade walls’, could be programmed by attaching an iconic flag to the robot. Second, different personalities could be programmed, by putting the appropriate dress over the robot.

Reflection

By working with researchers from a variety of disciplines, I was forced to find my ‘niche’: which of my competencies could add something to the multi-disciplinary team in which I worked. Throughout my internship, I learned that interacting is what distinguishes me from others: interacting between design and research, between exploration and analysis, but also literally between people and disciplines. My ability to quickly integrate e.g. software and hardware in a smart solution, or studied literature in a design decision, was a competency that was really valued, and where I really felt I added something.
My ‘way of working’, of 4d-sketching, exploration and analysis, quick user encounters and justified reasoning, fitted in this role of interacting: it builds upon my strengths, my preferences, and my competencies, while delivering good results as well. I’m glad I realised this ‘combination’, as it really helped me to decide how I want to work in my future career.

In addition, this internship was a confirmation of my preference for design-research: I’ve always preferred the content, the reasoning behind, and the depth in a project; the challenge of discovering why people and a design behave in a certain way, the discussions to convince myself and others, and the silent proudness of sharing such discoveries.

Last, but not least, this internship confirmed my ‘where I want to work’ question: multi-disciplinary teams, of people working alone on specific tasks, but together on the overall image. The cooperation, discussions and inspiration you get from interacting with all those interesting projects, that is what really motivates me. Our Eindhoven department is very strong on this, and this internship had the same community and atmosphere: that is what I really like, and need, to stay enthusiastic day in day out.