Affective Design has a fascinating interview with Ms. Adams, of Microsoft. The article talks about the “understanding that products communicate meaning through their formâ€. This is called product semiotics. She mentions the HP TouchSmart by name as a product that encourages social interaction by its design.
Stereotypically, computers are seen as a device that isolates us, at least physically, from others. Yes, there are vibrant communities within cyberspace, and there are those that meet up in person with friends found online. The TouchSmart PC is one of the first that facilitates social interaction in person. HTPCs (home theater PCs) also do to some extent, but since they often replicate the television experience, which is not the best social environment, they are lesser examples. With a HTPC, the user with the remote is “in chargeâ€. Yes they can pass the remote around, but it still limits interactive use. On the other hand, the TouchSmart, with its touch screen, allows for all those viewing it to touch it and perform a desired action like opening up a picture.
The Surface computer from Microsoft, with its ability to let multiple users interact at the same time, is the natural progression from a simple PC with touch screen attached. It will be very interesting to see how the product, and those similar to it, unfold.
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