Characterizing the analog-like and digital-like attributes of interactive systems

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the works of the Keio-NUS CUTE Center at the National University of Singapore in order to uncover the dispositions of "analogness" and "digitalness" in regards to the relationship between users and interfaces. By comparing concepts of embodiment from a philosophical perspective, paired with the computer science treatment of analog and digital data, we derive a contingent definition for analog-like and digital-like interaction. With case studies as reference, we outline a continuum to describe types of interfaces based on these dispositions, which could then be further analyzed using characteristics for designing analog-like, digital-like or hybrid-like interactive systems. We then propose a new methodology for designing novel interactive systems that are analog in nature, called interactive analog media (IAM) and finally describe a prototype system called Linetic, which exemplifies some of the characteristics described in this paper.