In this paper, we focus on the idea of using artificial shadows as information displays. Through scenarios, co-design methods, and low-fi prototyping, we assess and create different scenarios to chart people’s preferences in designing shadow displays. We report on two user studies, which reveal aesthetics, experiental aspects, unobtrusiveness, and ambiguity as key strengths of shadow displays. Our work contributes to the research knowledge in applying co-design methods to create user interfaces for artificial intelligence (AI) enhanced environments.

In this paper, we present a design space for using shadows in interactive systems. The main elements of the design space are optical properties, dynamicity, reality, temporality, and projection surface. The use and applicability of the design space are evaluated through three concept designs. The paper contributes a systematic approach to designing interactive systems with shadows, adding to the prior art focused on case studies.

Augmenting human appearance with the means of technology can focus on different layers attached to or around the body. In this article, we present a categorization of human appearance and expression, with augmenting skin and its appendages, clothing and textile, accessories, body parts, and digital aura around the body. We report a non-systematic review of related works in each category and discuss their means in expressing functional, hedonic, and social aspects. In conclusion, our study contributes design perspectives on augmenting human appearances, as well as reveals challenges and opportunities.

In this paper, we present a design space for using shadows in interactive systems. The main elements of the design space are optical properties, dynamicity, reality, temporality, and projection surface. The paper contributes a systematic approach for designing interactive systems with shadows, adding to the prior art, which consists mostly of focused case studies.

This paper explores a novel concept of textile-based shadow displays that incorporates shape memory alloys (SMA) on fabrics to cast dynamic shadows as an ambient information display. To explore this, we implemented a lamp prototype, capable of presenting a set of dynamic shadows. These shadows exemplified iconic vs. abstract shadow figures, as well as demonstrating changes in shadow sharpness, size and/or position on the lamp’s shade. We conducted a user study (n =8) to investigate the perception toward our concept. Our findings report that the concept does not only provide the potential for a variety of use cases, dynamic alterations of the shadows feel like a decorative addition to the living spaces, as well as creating relaxing channels of information display.

This paper explores the concept of using human shadows as an ambient information display. As shadows are an integral part of the physical world, consisting of non-illuminated and dynamic shapes, they provide a potential basis for the design of unobtrusive ambient displays. We created a set of artificial human shadows to explore the concept, and conducted a user study (n = 12) to chart perceptions on the idea. As salient findings, the concept was perceived as interesting, and provoked strong reactions during the user study, e.g. surprise, laughter, and, at times, the feeling of spookiness. Synchronisation of movements between the manipulated shadows and the physical world and the ability to visually recognize the human shape, even when distortions are applied, are essential for the user experience.

We present the design and prototype of ShadowSparrow, an ambient display utilizing lights & shadows. The concept uses illustrative bird images and other relevant visuals (e.g., dishwasher and e-mail icons) cast on the surroundings for ambient information visualizations and notifications. Our work creates an alternative channel to convey non-critical information in an unobtrusive and aesthetic way.

The amount of status and notification information available to people is increasing beyond the capacity of the current primary delivery channel of smartphones. Ambient displays, e.g. embedded in the home or work environment present an alternative channel, suited to less critical information. We created an ambient display by manipulating the natural shadows cast by a house plant to carry information. To explore user perceptions of the shadow display we evaluated it in a focus group (n = 6). Whilst participants saw some potential in the approach, there were concerns about identifying the meaning of the display and the psychological effects of distorting reality. The work highlights the potential for designers to explore the use of functional shadows to carry non-critical information.