Poetics of furniture : augmenting furniture with technologies

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on one genre of new hybrid objects, namely furniture augmented with electronics. It explores the role of furniture as mediators of social interactions, as well as its potential for eliciting emotional and social responses from users. To understand the ways in which augmentations of furniture are manifested, examples of augmented furniture have been analyzed and classified into three taxonomies - by functionality, autonomy and design strategy. The dissertation does not focus on furniture situated in activities or scenarios for work-related themes, but in the theme of small moments, everyday, non-instrumental social interaction scenarios between people (for example, dinner at a table, conversation with a friend, walking on the street or reading a newspaper). Although the small moments scenarios may appear marginal, they are in fact the very glue of our daily lives. Three furniture projects are developed to explore the mediating role of furniture. They are the Conversation Table, Stealing Table and Orev Bench. The design strategy applied for addressing small moments through these projects can be best described as poetic. The projects are attempts to encourage moments of playful reflection and ultimately help their users learn more about themselves and about the objects they use.