Lover's cups: drinking interfaces as new communication channels
From ThesisWiki
Contents |
Authors
Hyemin Chung, Chia-Hsun Jackie Lee, Ted Selker
Overview
Lovers Cups are a drinking glasses extended to allow for emotional communication through drinking. The authors note that drinking with other people lowers barriers and let's people feel like they are sharing their time together. The cups are designed to be a new, more emotional channel of communication and to improve the quality of interconnections between people living at a distance.
Reflection
The idea of "sharing time together" is an interesting one and I think it is core to synchronous connections such as these. The very act of connectedness is what creates a shared space for "being together". Particularly interesting is the idea that these cups are to be used not only along with other traditional communication mediums but even at the same time. While talking together on the phone two people could also be drinking together -- adding another level of emotional connection.
Working prototypes of these cups have been created but there was no mention of product testing with target users.
