Hands reaching out of dreamland: A haptic peripheral alarm clock

Abstract

Checking your pocket for your mobile phone is still there, tying your shoelaces, moving a cup to your mouth to drink, are examples of peripheral activities, which can be performed without focused attention - something humans are perfectly capable of. However during the rapid development of technology these human skills are often not addressed in the designs that surround us. Products are simply designed for full attention without taking peripheral attention into account as an equally important mode of interaction. This paper explores the notion of peripheral interactivity using touch as a new mode of expression and experience by means of making time tangible. The haptic, peripheral alarm clock as presented in this paper turns the activity of checking the time while sleeping into a truly peripheral activity. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.