Critical Interaction Design
Human Computer Interaction Institute, Carnegie Mellon University

Critical Interaction Design focuses on contemporary practices in the Human Computer Interaction; Interaction Design and Interactive Arts fields that challenge augment and develop new methods to understand the relationship between the user and her computerbased tools. Developing effective interaction designs and computer-based applications involves negotiation between usability, aesthetics, style, and product identity. Critical Interaction Design adds to these traditional design processes theoretical concerns facing the culture(s) of innovation including the institutions of production and use of new technologies, open source communities, software as culture and cultural artifacts, the gender of software development and the networked social nature of computer interfaces. Critical Interaction Design is a group of theories, methodologies and practices whose goal it is to create ways to sustain a culturally and socially rich information society. This class will map current trends in Critical Interaction Design by reviewing writings and works by HCI researchers, Interaction Designers, Interactive Artists and critical theorist who are incorporating these concepts into their research and practice. Students will develop methods they can use to integrate these practices and concerns into their own Interaction Design, HCI, Information Technology and Interactive Art work.

Course Syllabus & Materials available upon request
PROJECT 1: OBSERVE Critical Observations: Photography Essay on an Essay about Photography by Susan Sontag
Essay 1: Andrea Knight - Master in Human Computer Interaction Essay 2: Keith Oh - Master in Human Computer Interaction Essay 3: Pen-Hui (Maffee) Wan - Ph.D. candidate Computation Design, Architecture Essay 4: James Sorroco - Junior, School of Design
PROJECT 2: THINK Critical Thoughts: Information Ecologies and Wicked Problems in Design Thinking
Essay 1: Pen-Hui (Maffee) Wan - Ph.D. candidate Computation Design, Architecture "Information Ecologies and Wicked Problems in Design Thinking" Essay 2: Essay 2: Keith Oh - Master in Human Computer Interaction "Critical Thoughts on Kiva Han"
PROJECT 3: ACT Critical Interaction Design: Urban Nomad: Connecting People in Public Spaces
The EyeWall Project The Eye-Wall is a form of dynamic information sculpture that is realized via a network of touchscreen display panels for sharing and conveyance of information. The Eye-Wall is designed to network people together, whether or not they know each other - information that is displayed is based on profile similarities. Essentially, the Eye-Wall is a way to bring people together by sharing information specific to a location and/or an event, and allows participants to arrange meetings, post notes, leave messages, suggestions, etc. for others.