04/11/2023 1

Horse riding as a metaphor for smart material interfaces

Prof. Dr. Wim A. PoelmanPoelman Partners

Arnhemse Bovenweg 133708 AA Zeist, Netherlands

+ 31 30 6925139wim@poelman-partners.nl

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 2

Key question: Is interface vanishing as a discrete phenomenon?

Smart Material Interfaces, Santa MonicaSmart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 3

Ankie van Grinsven

Smart Material Interfaces, Santa MonicaSmart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 4

Observations

• In the past products mainly took over physical functions from the user.

• In this information era, mental functions are taken over as well. • A product is not anymore defined by just design requirements,

but also by a man-machine “contract” in which rule for cooperation between them are recorded.

• Products will not relate to each other anymore as master and slave but as partners aiming for an objective, which generally is decided for by the user.

• But even that is not necessary. The objective could be decided for by the supplier of the device.

Smart Material Interfaces, Santa MonicaSmart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 5

Conclusion

• Concluding we could argue that the relation man-machine is changing from:

“a paradigm in which the interface is acting as an intermediary between user and device”

to “a paradigm in which man and machine communicate

directly.

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 6

EXTENSION OF HUMAN CAPABILITIES

• Donald Schön [3] and others defined “extension of human capabilities” as a main goal of technology.

• Philosopher Peter-Paul Verbeek [2] added to that idea the

principle that technology is not something that humans work with, but something that is part of being human.

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 7

EXTENSION OF HUMAN CAPABILITIES

• In fact there is nothing new about that. • A pair of spectacles is an extension of your sense of

sight. • Your clothes are an extension of your capabilities to

manage body temperature, as well as an extension of you capabilities to express yourself.

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 8

EXTENSION OF HUMAN CAPABILITIES

• Already thousands of years, a horse was an extension of our capabilities to move.

• The difference between spectacles and clothes on the one hand and horses on the other hand is the fact that horses are smart products.

• As the phenomenon of smart products is booming, it is time to learn from one of the first smart product: a horse.

Smart Material Interfaces, Santa Monica

04/11/2023 9

ANALYSIS OF HORSE RIDING

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 10

ANALYSIS OF HORSE RIDING

HorseHorse

Brains

Body language

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 11

Smart materials vacuum cleaner

Smart Material Interfaces, Santa Monica

04/11/2023 12

Smart materials vacuum cleaner

Smart Material Interfaces, Santa Monica

04/11/2023 13

Smart materials vacuum cleaner

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 14

Smart materials vacuum cleaner

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 15Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 16Smart Material Interfaces, Santa Monica

Ionic Metal polymer composites

Ionic Metal polymer composites 2

Disney character

Charlottes filmpje

04/11/2023 17

conclusions

• This vacuum cleaner has started to look a little bit like a horse.

• It communicates with body language and manages an own agenda.

• For developing body language a lot of technology has to be developed.

• Passive color changing materials are proven to be possible, but are not yet applicable on a large scale.

• The same counts for shape changing materials. In a horse this technology is present but it is difficult to imitate.

• There is a lot of work for biomimicry people.

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design

04/11/2023 18

Thank you!

Smart Material Interfaces, Material Design