Hasta La Ideas

Here’s an example of design research that does not (in my opinion) consider larger societal consequences. Researchers at Canada’s University of Waterloo are experimenting with the ability to control smartphone apps with your feet, as you walk.

You could argue that this isn’t “design” research at all, as the researchers are from the university’s School of Computer Science; but since it involves UI, I’ll put it under the design umbrella.

Here’s the impetus for the research: “Waterloo professor of computer science Daniel Vogel, frustrated by having to stop and use his phone with cold fingers while walking to get coffee, wondered if there could be a way to place orders without pausing.”

The researchers are thus using an AR headset to detect specific gait patterns. The idea is that you can navigate apps by altering your footfall, turning your foot one way or the other as you walk. Examples:

I understand design research and experimentation is important, particularly in a university setting, but I think this is a terrible idea. We already have a problem with people walking around cities with their noses buried in their phones. On YouTube you can see disturbing compilations of people heedlessly walking into traffic, with predictable results. The idea that what we need is a new way to interact with our phones while walking is, I think, wrongheaded.

I like to think that if this research was conducted at a design school, or in partnership with designers, there would be some robust conversations around how this technology would affect people. Then again, those discussions didn’t take place with the designers who invented smartphones, so maybe I’m giving designers too much credit.