Engineering Magic: Progress Presentation

Engineering

Finding Inspiration in Magic, Mysticism, and Superstition

to Inspire Natural Interactions

with Technology

Magic

Photo (cc) Martin Lissmats (http://flickr.com/photos/

dalyswe/243821461/)

Dowsing and Divining

Dowsing is the ancient art of detecting things underground, like water

or precious minerals.

Divining Rod

A divining rod is a Y-shaped branch of willow

or hazel that points down when a dowser detects

something underground.

of course...

All of this is nonsense.

but...

it might make for a fun WiFi detector

“I pay not one ha’penny for my wireless. Verily!”

Vibrates more

violently the

stronger the

signal.

JustificationMystical artifacts and superstitious objects

may not work as claimed, but a part of us

wishes they did.

This is an AFFORDANCE!

And remember,

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable #om magic.”

Arthur C. Clarke

so why shouldn’t current technology intentionally

evoke past magic?

ChallengesIt’s just a stick.

What kinds of interactions can we give it without making it seem technological?

How do we convey detailed info like SSID?

Do we even want to?

Any other magical objects?