Prototypes of Tangible Interactions

As authors of this chapter, we aim to analyse the role of prototypes in the research area of interaction design. We selected three Case Studies involving tangible artifacts in the context of academic research. We interviewed Livia Tenuta, assistant professor at the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano, who shared a Case Study of research in innovative jewelry for an Italian company. We interviewed Olga Noronha, designer, artist and visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Arts and Central Saint Martins. She shared her doctoral thesis findings about an Investigation into the Possibilities and Affordances of Medical Jewellery. Thirdly we interviewed Tom Jenkins, assistant professor at IxD Lab IT, University of Copenhagen. He shared with us the Case Study of research on alternative modes of living thanks to domestic Internet of Things devices adopted in co-housing communities. All examples refer to research developed in an academic context, where external partners are involved at different levels and for various purposes. In the chapter, firstly we illustrate the selec-tion criteria adopted for three Case Studies. Then we describe compare and discuss them through the lens of the prototypes’ categorisation criteria and interviewees’ feedback on our theoretical concepts.