Of the project represented on this page, I was really fascinated by Intimate Toilet and Hit Me! For context, Hit Me! “is a two player hyper-interactive, physical game that tests speed, agility and the ability to take good snapshots… [and] …utilizes technology to encourage face-to-face real-world interaction between players and also spectators.” Intimate Toilet is “about a multi-contextual interactive toilet experience providing both entertainment and relaxation.” Both projects require participants to do something: Intimate Toilet requires participants to sit in a squatting position, and Hit Me! participants must hit a specific button on their opponent’s helmet. 

Intimate Toilet uses a number of sensors to detect participant foot position as well as bodyweight. If the device detects the user as being in “the right position,” a relaxing video will play on screen. This project encourages participants to sit down, take a load off and stay a while. Similarly, Hit Me! also uses sensors to detect button-presses as well as cameras to capture the moments where the buttons were actually pressed; from there, score is kept on screen.

The interfaces that are paired with each example caught my eye immediately. What caught my eye in both cases was the interfaces; each project gave participants something to focus on while also providing immediate feedback. I think that part is interesting because it lets participants know if they’re engaging as the artist intended. As an illustrator, I think the additional UI creates an additional layer to the device itself, and I’d love to explore how my own visual art talents can be employed to elevate a physical device experience.