A Dialogue of the Senses - by Sile O'Modhrain Paperback

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In this introduction to embodied cognition and the design of interactive systems, A Dialogue of the Senses, Sile O'Modhrain argues for turning the interaction design process inside out. We cannot design the experiences of those who use our artifacts and devices, she says; we can only put in place the conditions under which users can bring forth, through their actions, an embodied experience of the world that includes the things we build. Our interactions with artifacts and devices are physical interactions, even if partly or wholly simulated.

The world our devices bring into being is one that people experience by moving their bodies to elicit changes in the stimuli they pick up through their senses. O'Modhrain centers the role of movement in interaction design, introducing techniques of motion capture, design practices in movement-based interaction, and considerations of the many perceptual and motor skills that people bring to bear when they interact with their digitally augmented world through devices such as phones, home assistants, and VR gaming controllers.

Review Quotes

"A fabulous addition to your HCI bookshelf, A Dialogue of the Senses connects deep theory with real-world practice to show how sensing and embodiment will redefine interaction beyond the screen. It may not teach you to design an interface, but it will fundamentally shift how you think about designing one."
--Chris Harrison, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie Mellon University

"O'Modhrain's model of interface design jettisons the static 'user' of a machine to encompass the body in motion across time and space. The book's theoretical foundations and person-centric focus offer a unique and insightful perspective on this important field."
--Roberta Klatzky, coauthor of Sensation and Perception

"A Dialogue of the Senses should be required reading for all interested in the richly human shaping of new digital worlds and is destined to become an instant classic."
--Tod Machover, Faculty Director and Muriel R. Cooper Professor of Music & Media, MIT Media Lab

About the Author