6.3
Key contributions and outcomes of this work
Throughout this chapter I have discussed the outcomes of this work in a way that can be implicitly interpreted as the findings and outcomes of the research carried out throughout this project. However, I feel it is important to explicitly highlight these contributions too: some of these contributions, such as the methodology for this research, should be considered a contribution in itself. The following list contains the contributions of this work that I consider most important:
The Methodology described at the start of this work (see Chapter 2) outlines a research methodology focused on many iterative cycles of research that guide research over time. Whilst it seems clear from my experience that this is how much of work in the field of design is carried out, I found it particularly difficult to pin down an exact definition of the methodology, and epistemology to which a researcher may prescribe in order to understand the work that is done in design as explicit research. As a result, I highlight the most applicable epistemology for this form of research, and construct a hybrid methodology that best reflects this epistemology. Whilst this chapter is of importance to this work, I whole-heartedly believe that it is also of some benefit to other researchers in the area. As such I consider the whole chapter a key contribution of this work.
Academic Papers were a key goal throughout this research work. I believe that the pro- duction of academic papers is an important part of the research process for two reasons: firstly, they expose work to scrutiny from other academics, and secondly they act as a means of dissemination to the greater academic community. It is for these reasons that throughout the research and writing up of this thesis, I have had four academic papers di- rectly or tangentially related to this thesis accepted by journals and/or conferences, with others awaiting review. The main works carried out have been submitted and presented at conferences: the most recent being the presentation ofDesigning Information Feedback Within Physical/Digital Game Spaces at DRS2016, which was well received. Whilst the middle chapters of this work are expanded versions of these papers, I consider the papers themselves to be key contributions to this work, as they will likely have the most impact on the wider academic community.
How do we do? How do we know? how do wesense? I would consider this, alongside the methodology, to be the most important contribution that I am trying to make with this
6.3 Key contributions and outcomes of this work
work. Whilst the methodology chapter addresses the fact that no real explicit definition for methodology exists for work carried out in this style, I hope to also contribute some theory to build on existing relevant work that addresses the way in which we understand to interact with objects. More explicitly, the way that ’sensing’ and ’perceiving’ are an important part of the interaction process, and how current understanding for how we interact relies on the user knowing at what point along the virtuality continuum an object exists in order to interact with it. As such we have two streams of research: understanding how to interact with the physical, and understanding how to interact with the digital. As things are increasingly becoming both digital and physical, this categorisation is becoming less appropriate. I propose that the senses be used as a common area for the interaction process. An ideal way for this small idea to make the most sense is to replace ’How do we do? How do we know? how do wefeel?’ with ’How do we do? How do we know? how do wesense?’. This takes a framework that was designed for application in the physical reality and appropriates it to the hybrid space that is increasingly common.
In addition to this, a number of secondary contributions also come under this ’sense’ banner: the concepts of ’channels’, ’information overload’, and ’attention as a resource’ should also be considered contributions of this work.
Reflections , as highlighted by the methodology chapter are an intrinsic part of the method- ology proposed: this work needs to be documented and reflected upon. This reflection comes in two forms: a reflection upon the work and findings within the projects, and a more overarching review of the methodology.
Documentation is very important to this research & methodology in a similar way to reflec- tions. Whilst arguably a secondary contribution, I have included digital documentation of much of the work discussed throughout this thesis. This included digital copies of the papers submitted, source code for any software written, extra imagery taken throughout the studies discussed and tangential projects.
In summary, the key contributions of this work can be considered as the explicit method- ology and epistemological positioning outlined in Chapter 2, a portfolio of projects (Chapters 3, 4.1 and 5) with respective academic papers, the “Do? Know? Sense?” framework outlined in Chapter 6 alongside relevant documentation and reflections upon the project.