Fostering Well-Being

Evert van Beek – TU Delft

Coaches: Dr. Marco Rozendaal (TU Delft), Prof. Catholijn Jonker (TU Delft) and Prof. Pim Haselager (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen)

BagSight

How can products express guidance or intentions to us?

Taking inspiration from both guide dogs and the cybernetic concept of Braitenberg vehicles, BagSight is a research artifact exploring how designed objects can express their own intentions. By tightening its cord, this backpack moves on the back of the wearer during navigation of a city in order to express its feedback or desires. BagSight’s kinesthetic behaviour is designed in such a way that it can be seen as being afraid of obstacles (desiring to move away from them) and interested in moving towards a given goal. In a research study, participants described their experience of using BagSight as similar to an extension of their sensory organs, viewing it as both instrument and agent.