Digital Ground: Architecture, Pervasive Computing, And Environmental Knowing

by Malcolm McCullough

A theory of place for interaction design. Digital Ground is an architect's response to the design challenge posed by pervasive computing. One century into the electronic age, people have become accustomed to interacting indirectly, mediated through networks. But now as digital technology becomes invisibly embedded in everyday things, even more activities become mediated, and networks extend rather than replace architecture. The young field of interaction design reflects not only how people deal with machine interfaces but also how people deal with each other in situations where interactivity has become ambient. It shifts previously utilitarian digital design concerns to a cultural level, adding notions of premise, appropriateness, and appreciation. Malcolm McCullough offers an account of the intersections of architecture and interaction design, arguing that the ubiquitous technology does not obviate the human need for place. His concept of "digital ground" expresses an alternative to anytime-anyplace sameness in computing; he shows that context not only shapes usability but ideally becomes the subject matter of interaction design and that "environmental knowing" is a process that technology may serve and not erode. Drawing on arguments from architecture, psychology, software engineering, and geography, writing for practicing interaction designers, pervasive computing researchers, architects, and the general reader on digital culture, McCullough gives us a theory of place for interaction design. Part I, "Expectations," explores our technological predispositions—many of which ("situated interactions") arise from our embodiment in architectural settings. Part II, "Technologies," discusses hardware, software, and applications, including embedded technology ("bashing the desktop"), and building technology genres around life situations. Part III, "Practices," argues for design as a liberal art, seeing interactivity as a cultural—not only technological—challenge and a practical notion of place as essential. Part IV, "Epilogue," acknowledges the epochal changes occurring today, and argues for the role of "digital ground" in the necessary adaptation.

Genres: Design, Architecture, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Urbanism, Cultural

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Amber Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about the new ground that is tread by those who utizilize technology in everyday life. As humans, we are generally rooted to solid ground by gravity. Enter the computer, the internet, the cell phone. Enter smart fabrics, GPS, and micro-blogging.

Suddenly, ground is something that can be transcended. Users float through space, interacting with others users thousands of miles away. The distance it takes one's ideas to travel from one point in time/space to another is decreasing through the use of this new digital ground.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful exploration from the 500-foot level of what ubicomp can be, without failing to touch on the negative as well as the hand-waving. It holds the current record as the source of most long-quotes in my tumblr. Finally humanistic, as the best books about technology should be.

[Kars · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In the end, the design of technology cannot leave us as spectators or consumers, but must let us actively practice at something, however humble. Taking part in locale is one such activity.”

For anyone who believes design is about more than "problem-solving", the appropriate response to emerging pervasive technologies is neither neo-Luddism nor uncritical optimism and places hold values beyond that which modern economics accounts for, this is an essential read.

I found it slow-going at first, but from the third section onwards McCullough delivers a passionate argument for the value of interaction design that is grounded in place.

[Mike Violano · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your interests span architecture and technology this is a great read. Interesting views on how technology is transforming our home/work environments, how we interact with others and thoughts about where the future may lie.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels very much like an expanded doctoral thesis. Still, it falls under one of my favorite categories of "how we see and embody the spaces we inhabit."

[Andrew Lovett-barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started me on the path of interaction design. I tell everyone to read it.