Tangible interfaces to digital connections, centralized versus decentralized

Abstract

In the era of distributed digital media, technology is moving to the background and interoperability between devices increases. The handles for users to explore, make and break connections between devices seem to disappear in overly complex menu structures displayed on small screens. Two prototypes have been developed that introduce a tangible approach towards exploring, making and breaking connections between devices in a home environment. Findings suggest that users are better able to project their mental model of how the system works on decentralized representations and that a tangible solution is not necessarily a better one. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.