Research

The Language of Gait

The Language of Gait

Language – the words and sentences used to make our intentions known to others and help us understand others’ intentions toward us – are only part of human-to-human communication. Non-verbal communication makes up three quarters of our ability to communicate.

Within weeks of being born we learn the meaning of a whole physical language, from a mother’s smile to a sibling’s frown. From thereon, how we sit, how we stand, where we look and what we do with our hands and feet give us clues about the thoughts, sincerity and mood of others. This article tries to discuss the possible use cases of this form of communication with a machine aka human computer interaction.

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Ethnography in Contemporary times

Ethnography in Contemporary times

Our first design project (DP-I) was all about knowing ourselves, our social groups and our community better. One of the most prominent ways to do that is by the means of an Ethnographic study of the concerned group. At its heart, ethnography is the study of cultures. But what does it mean to KNOW a social group? And how do we as designers or rather ethnographers find it out? How does one's involvement in a social group affect its dynamics? How does the researcher celebrates or condemns social practices of the group in his/her writings based on his/her limited understanding of the world? What is the basis of these judgements?

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