tangible interaction

Protea-Type — a tangible interface, built and tested

A physical, tangible user interface designed, prototyped, and evaluated for an HCI master's — research through building, not just specifying.

roleDesigner–researcher
methodsPrototyping + evaluation
contextM.A. HCI, Carleton
yearfill in
images/protea-1.jpg — photo of the physical prototype (this case benefits most from real images)
tl;dr
write this lastOne or two sentences: what was the project, and what changed because of your research? Write it last, once the study below is clear.
context

The situation

promptWhat is Protea-Type, and what question about tangible interaction motivated it? Set up why a physical prototype was the right way to investigate it.
research question

What I set out to answer

promptThe research/design question the artifact was built to probe. Tangible-interaction work is strongest when the object is an argument, not just a gadget — what claim does it test?
methods

What I actually did

promptHow you built it (materials, fabrication, iterations) and how you evaluated it (who tried it, what you observed, how you analysed it). This case shows you can build, which sets you apart from research-only candidates — be concrete about the making.
key findings

What we found

prompt — 2 to 4 findingsWhat the prototype revealed — about the interaction, about users, about your hypothesis. Include what surprised you. Photos or short clips strengthen each finding.
impact

What changed

promptWhat the work contributed: to the course, to your understanding of tangible UX, to any follow-on. Honest about scope.
reflection

What I'd carry forward

promptLimitations honestly stated, what you'd do differently, and what the work taught you as a researcher.