The difference between an annoying technology and one that is helpful is how it engages our attention. Calm Technology is a framework for designing ubiquitous devices that engage our attention in an appropriate manner. The aim of Calm Technology is to provide principles that follow the human lifestyle and environment in mind, allowing technology to amplify humanness instead of taking it away. The terms Calm Computing and Calm Technology were coined in 1995 by PARC Researchers Mark Weiser and John Seely Brown in reaction to the increasing complexities that information technologies were creating. Calm technology describes a state of technological maturity where a user’s primary task is not computing, but being human. The idea behind Calm Technology is to have smarter people, not things. Technology shouldn’t require all of our attention, just some of it, and only when necessary. This workshop covers how to use principles of Calm Technology to design the next generation of connected devices. We’ll look at notification styles, compressing information into other senses, and designing for the least amount of cognitive overhead. - Use principles of Calm Technology to design the next generation of connected devices. - Design appropriate notification systems into both physical and software products - Communicate the principles of Calm Technology to your across your organization and team - Use methods of Calm Technology to design technology for generations, not seasons. Who is the workshop for? This workshop is for anyone that actively builds or makes decisions about technology, especially user experience designers, product designers, managers, creative directors and developers. Attendees are encouraged to have some background in user experience design and look at http://calmtech.com/ or Designing Calm Technology before the workshop.

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Workshop on Designing
Calm Technology
calmtech.com
Workshop by Amber Case | Research Fellow
Harvard Berkman Klein Center
Civic Media @ MIT Media Lab
@caseorganic
caseorganic@gmail.com

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50 billion devices
will be online by
2020. -Cisco

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Sound good?

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Consider…

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The "Smart" Watch

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The "Smart" Fridge

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The Dystopian Kitchen of the Future

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Interruptive
Technology

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Connected Animals

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The new Schrödinger's Cat
Failure forces humans to ‘manually’ feed ravenous pets

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PetNet is not held responsible for any service failures:
Source: http://readwrite.com/2016/08/01/petnet-shows-happens-iot-fails-dl1/

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We need a
Calm Technology

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XEROX PARC: mid-90s
Mark Weiser John Seeley Brown

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“A good tool is an invisible tool.
By invisible, we mean that the
tool does not intrude on your
consciousness; you focus on the
task, not the tool.”
Mark Weiser --
1993

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A person's primary task
should not be computing, but
being human.

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Principles of Calm
Technology

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I. Technology shouldn’t require
all of our attention, just some of
it, and only when necessary

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A Tea Kettle

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II. Technology should inform and
create calm

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III. Technology should make
use of the periphery

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Calm technology makes use of our
peripheral attention, allowing us to
be aware of more things with less
cognitive overhead.
Empowering the Periphery

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1. Haptics vs. auditory alerts (haptic compass)
2. Light status vs. full display (on/off)
3. Positive or negative tones (home electronics)
4. Transparency (inner-office windows)
Create ambient awareness through
different senses

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Weather Status
Lighting
Hue Lightbulb connected
to a weather report
@aaronpk 2014

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LUMOBack Smart Posture Sensor
Buzzes you
when you exhibit
poor posture.

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IV. Technology should
amplify
the best of technology and
the best of humanity

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• 1500 times faster
When
automation
goes right
3Scan:
1500 times
faster than
humans

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V. Technology can
communicate, but it doesn’t
need to speak

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The Roomba Robotic
Vacuum Cleaner :)

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1. Machines shouldn't act like humans
2. Humans shouldn't act like machines
3. Amplify the best part of each
Design for people first

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VI. Technology should work
even when it fails.

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VII. The right amount of
technology is the minimum
needed to solve the
problem.

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Street Lights Toilet Occupied Sign

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VIII. Technology should
consider social norms

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Restorative
Normal
Enhancing Fear-inducing
Accepted
Invisible
Technology and Invisiblity

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Exercises

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Place*
- Relation
- History
- Identity
*Non-Places: Introduction to an Anthropology
of Supermodernity (1995), Marc Augé

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Non-place
Modern Urban
Society

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Project #1:
Design a place in
a non-place.
15 min

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I. Technology should require the smallest
possible amount of attention
II. Technology should inform and create calm
III. Technology should make use of the periphery
IV. Technology should amplify the best of
technology and the best of humanity
V. Technology can communicate, but doesn’t
need to speak
VI. Technology should work even when it fails
VII. The right amount of technology is the
minimum needed to solve the problem

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Project #2:
Pick a Doctor’s Office
Or Hospital Experience
and Design it to be calm
(15 min)

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Calm Technology allows people to
accomplish goals with the least
amount of mental cost

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1. Haptics vs. auditory alerts (haptic compass)
2. Light status vs. full display (on/off)
3. Positive or negative tones (home electronics)
4. Transparency (inner-office windows)
Create ambient awareness through
different senses

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Project #3:
Design a product or service that
uses Ambient Awareness to
deliver information
(15 min)

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Thank you
very much!
Amber Case
calmtech.com
Calm Technology
from O'Reilly and
amazon.com!