Novel Interfaces for Interactive Environments

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the design and delivery of a course within an undergraduate game-development curriculum on designing next-generation interfaces. Through a combination of hands-on experience with existing “alternative” game interfaces, traditional and flipped lectures on the human senses and technologies to simulate them, and an introduction to how to use DIY hardware, students were challenged to rethink approaches to constructing interactive user experiences. Because much of the infrastructure used in the course design is readily accessible, it is hoped that the course structure can be reproduced within other programs that want their students to think beyond what is easy (e.g., keyboard, mouse, game pad) to what could significantly improve the user experience in terms of interface design.