The secret language of objects | Craig Sampson | TEDxNaperville

this has all happened to you right you

this has all happened to you right you come up to the door you pull you pull

come up to the door you pull you pull

come up to the door you pull you pull again and it still won’t open doh it

again and it still won’t open doh it

again and it still won’t open doh it says push right there in English what’s

says push right there in English what’s

says push right there in English what’s wrong with you well I’m here to tell you

wrong with you well I’m here to tell you

wrong with you well I’m here to tell you it’s not you it’s me

it’s not you it’s me

it’s not you it’s me well actually I don’t mean me that’s the

well actually I don’t mean me that’s the

well actually I don’t mean me that’s the door speaking I’m here as your

door speaking I’m here as your

door speaking I’m here as your translator today I want to reveal to you

translator today I want to reveal to you

translator today I want to reveal to you the secret language of objects so back

the secret language of objects so back

the secret language of objects so back to that door it says push in English but

to that door it says push in English but

to that door it says push in English but look at that handle it’s calling out to

look at that handle it’s calling out to

look at that handle it’s calling out to you it’s screaming pull it’s

you it’s screaming pull it’s

you it’s screaming pull it’s irresistible you hear that you

irresistible you hear that you

irresistible you hear that you understand that language there are lots

understand that language there are lots

understand that language there are lots and lots of bad doors in the world push

and lots of bad doors in the world push

and lots of bad doors in the world push or pull twist or slide left or right and

or pull twist or slide left or right and

or pull twist or slide left or right and they’ve been around for thousands of

they’ve been around for thousands of

they’ve been around for thousands of years and this has become my obsession

years and this has become my obsession

years and this has become my obsession how do we interact with the world around

how do we interact with the world around

how do we interact with the world around us and not just physically but

us and not just physically but

us and not just physically but cognitively and even emotionally and

cognitively and even emotionally and

cognitively and even emotionally and it’s not just doors all of these objects

it’s not just doors all of these objects

it’s not just doors all of these objects in our lives how has it we come to know

in our lives how has it we come to know

in our lives how has it we come to know how to use them how is it they come to

how to use them how is it they come to

how to use them how is it they come to have meaning in our lives so I don’t

have meaning in our lives so I don’t

have meaning in our lives so I don’t know what you do with your obsessions

know what you do with your obsessions

know what you do with your obsessions but my obsession I turned into a class

but my obsession I turned into a class

but my obsession I turned into a class because I wanted to learn more and the

because I wanted to learn more and the

because I wanted to learn more and the best way to learn more is to teach a

best way to learn more is to teach a

best way to learn more is to teach a class and so I’ve dragged a bunch of

class and so I’ve dragged a bunch of

class and so I’ve dragged a bunch of students at Northwestern University for

students at Northwestern University for

students at Northwestern University for the past few years along with me on this

the past few years along with me on this

the past few years along with me on this journey to explore this and create a

journey to explore this and create a

journey to explore this and create a class called designing product

class called designing product

class called designing product interactions and I love introducing them

interactions and I love introducing them

interactions and I love introducing them to this notion into these principles

to this notion into these principles

to this notion into these principles into this language and helping them

into this language and helping them

into this language and helping them design new and interesting interactions

design new and interesting interactions

design new and interesting interactions our relationships with other people are

our relationships with other people are

our relationships with other people are really based on conversations and

really based on conversations and

really based on conversations and interactions really are conversations

interactions really are conversations

interactions really are conversations and the words of those conversations are

and the words of those conversations are

and the words of those conversations are subroutines now I’m an engineer and I

subroutines now I’m an engineer and I

subroutines now I’m an engineer and I apologize for introducing a nerdy

apologize for introducing a nerdy

apologize for introducing a nerdy computer science term here but it’s

computer science term here but it’s

computer science term here but it’s appropriate subroutines are these little

appropriate subroutines are these little

appropriate subroutines are these little bits of code that do a little thing and

bits of code that do a little thing and

bits of code that do a little thing and when you put those all together they

when you put those all together they

when you put those all together they create our experiences I’ll give you an

create our experiences I’ll give you an

create our experiences I’ll give you an example when I come up to someone and

example when I come up to someone and

example when I come up to someone and meet them I walk up and we shake hands

meet them I walk up and we shake hands

meet them I walk up and we shake hands we don’t think about it

we don’t think about it

we don’t think about it we don’t think about what muscles do I

we don’t think about what muscles do I

we don’t think about what muscles do I use where do I put my arm how do how

use where do I put my arm how do how

use where do I put my arm how do how hard do I squeeze we just do it because

hard do I squeeze we just do it because

hard do I squeeze we just do it because we understand the subroutine of shaking

we understand the subroutine of shaking

we understand the subroutine of shaking hands and we not only understand the

hands and we not only understand the

hands and we not only understand the mechanics of that but you also

mechanics of that but you also

mechanics of that but you also understand the deeper meaning that

understand the deeper meaning that

understand the deeper meaning that connection with another person the

connection with another person the

connection with another person the acknowledgment that comes along with

acknowledgment that comes along with

acknowledgment that comes along with that who here knows how to drive a car

that who here knows how to drive a car

that who here knows how to drive a car okay good

okay good

okay good who here knows how to play a guitar I

who here knows how to play a guitar I

who here knows how to play a guitar I see a few hands I would argue that

see a few hands I would argue that

see a few hands I would argue that everyone here knows how to play a guitar

everyone here knows how to play a guitar

everyone here knows how to play a guitar do you know that you hold it this way

do you know that you hold it this way

do you know that you hold it this way and that you squeeze the strings over

and that you squeeze the strings over

and that you squeeze the strings over here and you strum them here then you

here and you strum them here then you

here and you strum them here then you know how to play guitar now playing a

know how to play guitar now playing a

know how to play guitar now playing a guitar well is a whole other thing and I

guitar well is a whole other thing and I

guitar well is a whole other thing and I can’t do that either and it sounds good

can’t do that either and it sounds good

can’t do that either and it sounds good when you can do that but you know the

when you can do that but you know the

when you can do that but you know the playing a guitar subroutine turns out

playing a guitar subroutine turns out

playing a guitar subroutine turns out that many of these routines will pass

that many of these routines will pass

that many of these routines will pass the simple mime test I can do something

the simple mime test I can do something

the simple mime test I can do something and you know what I’m talking about

and you know what I’m talking about

and you know what I’m talking about you know I’m holding a glass we’re

you know I’m holding a glass we’re

you know I’m holding a glass we’re toasting you understand many of these

toasting you understand many of these

toasting you understand many of these subroutines are embedded in objects

subroutines are embedded in objects

subroutines are embedded in objects there are only a few actually do just

there are only a few actually do just

there are only a few actually do just with people usually there’s an object

with people usually there’s an object

with people usually there’s an object involved and inside those objects are

involved and inside those objects are

involved and inside those objects are the code that we’re reading and they’re

the code that we’re reading and they’re

the code that we’re reading and they’re reading from us the objects both enable

reading from us the objects both enable

reading from us the objects both enable and elicit our routines if I put the

and elicit our routines if I put the

and elicit our routines if I put the steering wheel in front of you you grab

steering wheel in front of you you grab

steering wheel in front of you you grab it you’d know what to do here’s another

it you’d know what to do here’s another

it you’d know what to do here’s another example we’ll go back to doors doors may

example we’ll go back to doors doors may

example we’ll go back to doors doors may have been around for millennia but

have been around for millennia but

have been around for millennia but doorknobs are actually a recent

doorknobs are actually a recent

doorknobs are actually a recent invention they’re less than a hundred

invention they’re less than a hundred

invention they’re less than a hundred and fifty years old the inventor of the

and fifty years old the inventor of the

and fifty years old the inventor of the doorknob combined the door handle with a

doorknob combined the door handle with a

doorknob combined the door handle with a latch and with that they created the

latch and with that they created the

latch and with that they created the subroutine we all know it don’t we that

subroutine we all know it don’t we that

subroutine we all know it don’t we that subroutine is a part of you and it

subroutine is a part of you and it

subroutine is a part of you and it didn’t exist when our country was

didn’t exist when our country was

didn’t exist when our country was founded it’s a new thing and the creator

founded it’s a new thing and the creator

founded it’s a new thing and the creator of the doorknob created that subroutine

of the doorknob created that subroutine

of the doorknob created that subroutine so in fact as a designer of products and

so in fact as a designer of products and

so in fact as a designer of products and services and such I realized that we’re

services and such I realized that we’re

services and such I realized that we’re not designing objects as much as we’re

not designing objects as much as we’re

not designing objects as much as we’re designing the interactions and these

designing the interactions and these

designing the interactions and these products whether they’re 10 or 100 or

products whether they’re 10 or 100 or

products whether they’re 10 or 100 or thousand years old the person who

thousand years old the person who

thousand years old the person who created it created the way in which we

created it created the way in which we

created it created the way in which we would interact with it and all of our

would interact with it and all of our

would interact with it and all of our interactions with the world happen

interactions with the world happen

interactions with the world happen through our senses that is our reality

through our senses that is our reality

through our senses that is our reality as we go through life and we’re

as we go through life and we’re

as we go through life and we’re continuously looking and taking in all

continuously looking and taking in all

continuously looking and taking in all of our senses there’s a part of the

of our senses there’s a part of the

of our senses there’s a part of the brain the parietal lobe where the

brain the parietal lobe where the

brain the parietal lobe where the signals from the different sensory

signals from the different sensory

signals from the different sensory systems come together and they’re all

systems come together and they’re all

systems come together and they’re all combined as we make sense of the world

combined as we make sense of the world

combined as we make sense of the world around us and so out of that region

around us and so out of that region

around us and so out of that region there’s a live stream of information and

there’s a live stream of information and

there’s a live stream of information and you know we call that live stream

you know we call that live stream

you know we call that live stream reality yes we all have our own reality

reality yes we all have our own reality

reality yes we all have our own reality and we make it ourselves all the time

our interactions in the world are very

our interactions in the world are very rarely a single sense or single modality

rarely a single sense or single modality

rarely a single sense or single modality life is multimodal

life is multimodal

life is multimodal take the cocktail party effect you’re in

take the cocktail party effect you’re in

take the cocktail party effect you’re in a big room with lots of people music

a big room with lots of people music

a big room with lots of people music lots of noise and people talking and yet

lots of noise and people talking and yet

lots of noise and people talking and yet you’re able to have a conversation with

you’re able to have a conversation with

you’re able to have a conversation with someone and isolate out just what

someone and isolate out just what

someone and isolate out just what they’re saying and understand that how

they’re saying and understand that how

they’re saying and understand that how does that happen

does that happen

does that happen psychologists have studied this and what

psychologists have studied this and what

psychologists have studied this and what they’ve discovered is that we look at

they’ve discovered is that we look at

they’ve discovered is that we look at the other person’s mouth and we watch

the other person’s mouth and we watch

the other person’s mouth and we watch that for information and that fills in

that for information and that fills in

that for information and that fills in the gaps that are missing in the

the gaps that are missing in the

the gaps that are missing in the auditory Channel

auditory Channel

auditory Channel it turns out at some level all of us are

it turns out at some level all of us are

it turns out at some level all of us are lip readers here’s another example let’s

lip readers here’s another example let’s

lip readers here’s another example let’s take this pin fact I think everyone was

take this pin fact I think everyone was

take this pin fact I think everyone was given a pen here pull out a pin you have

given a pen here pull out a pin you have

given a pen here pull out a pin you have him try this click

him try this click

him try this click now did you hear that or did you feel

now did you hear that or did you feel

now did you hear that or did you feel that click ah the answer is yes all of

that click ah the answer is yes all of

that click ah the answer is yes all of the above and in fact if you study the

the above and in fact if you study the

the above and in fact if you study the sense of touch when you felt it you felt

sense of touch when you felt it you felt

sense of touch when you felt it you felt the pressure on your thumb you felt the

the pressure on your thumb you felt the

the pressure on your thumb you felt the vibration of the little mechanism inside

vibration of the little mechanism inside

vibration of the little mechanism inside and you felt the movement of your phone

and you felt the movement of your phone

and you felt the movement of your phone with your proprioception and all of

with your proprioception and all of

with your proprioception and all of those things came together if you say

those things came together if you say

those things came together if you say yes that that worked here’s extra credit

yes that that worked here’s extra credit

yes that that worked here’s extra credit for you to try later study your pen and

for you to try later study your pen and

for you to try later study your pen and listen to it and see if you can tell the

listen to it and see if you can tell the

listen to it and see if you can tell the difference between the open click and

difference between the open click and

difference between the open click and the closed click now I don’t know if the

the closed click now I don’t know if the

the closed click now I don’t know if the designer of the pen intended this but

designer of the pen intended this but

designer of the pen intended this but through our experiences over our

through our experiences over our

through our experiences over our lifetime with pens and doors and many

lifetime with pens and doors and many

lifetime with pens and doors and many other things

other things

other things we know the sound of opening versus the

we know the sound of opening versus the

we know the sound of opening versus the sound of closing and it’s not just

sound of closing and it’s not just

sound of closing and it’s not just informational it’s also symbolic those

informational it’s also symbolic those

informational it’s also symbolic those sounds so when these sounds and other

sounds so when these sounds and other

sounds so when these sounds and other when the senses come together and then

when the senses come together and then

when the senses come together and then there congruous meaning they’re all

there congruous meaning they’re all

there congruous meaning they’re all consistent in meaning and synchronous

consistent in meaning and synchronous

consistent in meaning and synchronous meaning they’re happening at the same

meaning they’re happening at the same

meaning they’re happening at the same time or at least at the right time then

time or at least at the right time then

time or at least at the right time then everything comes together and we say

everything comes together and we say

everything comes together and we say that just feels right or some people

that just feels right or some people

that just feels right or some people will say it just clicks and when they

will say it just clicks and when they

will say it just clicks and when they don’t you know it it is very unsettling

don’t you know it it is very unsettling

don’t you know it it is very unsettling any of you who have ever watched a movie

any of you who have ever watched a movie

any of you who have ever watched a movie where the soundtrack doesn’t match the

where the soundtrack doesn’t match the

where the soundtrack doesn’t match the video and so the lips are moving but

video and so the lips are moving but

video and so the lips are moving but what you hear doesn’t and you just have

what you hear doesn’t and you just have

what you hear doesn’t and you just have to stop it you know what I’m talking

to stop it you know what I’m talking

to stop it you know what I’m talking about

about

about so our sensors are taking all of these

so our sensors are taking all of these

so our sensors are taking all of these things in and the people that make

things in and the people that make

things in and the people that make things have this whole palette of

things have this whole palette of

things have this whole palette of properties when they design products

properties when they design products

properties when they design products what texture what material how heavy

what texture what material how heavy

what texture what material how heavy will it be how well the mechanism move

will it be how well the mechanism move

will it be how well the mechanism move and all those things stimulate our

and all those things stimulate our

and all those things stimulate our senses but that toolkit is rapidly

senses but that toolkit is rapidly

senses but that toolkit is rapidly expanding with the electronic revolution

expanding with the electronic revolution

expanding with the electronic revolution this is just one page of the Arduino

this is just one page of the Arduino

this is just one page of the Arduino catalog which is electronic bits that

catalog which is electronic bits that

catalog which is electronic bits that you can buy and you can wire up

you can buy and you can wire up

you can buy and you can wire up different things and these little

different things and these little

different things and these little sensors and effectors are devices that

sensors and effectors are devices that

sensors and effectors are devices that are getting smaller and cheaper and

are getting smaller and cheaper and

are getting smaller and cheaper and lower

lower

lower power and easier and easier to include

power and easier and easier to include

power and easier and easier to include in many devices let me give you an

in many devices let me give you an

in many devices let me give you an example your smartphone inside your

example your smartphone inside your

example your smartphone inside your smartphone are all of these sensors

smartphone are all of these sensors

smartphone are all of these sensors that’s how it knows what you’re doing so

that’s how it knows what you’re doing so

that’s how it knows what you’re doing so they’re buttons that you press and it

they’re buttons that you press and it

they’re buttons that you press and it knows you press them there’s a

knows you press them there’s a

knows you press them there’s a touchscreen that you can pinch and swipe

touchscreen that you can pinch and swipe

touchscreen that you can pinch and swipe by the way look new subroutines are

by the way look new subroutines are

by the way look new subroutines are showing up all the time it knows the

showing up all the time it knows the

showing up all the time it knows the temperature acceleration orientation

temperature acceleration orientation

temperature acceleration orientation position in the world even altitude it

position in the world even altitude it

position in the world even altitude it has a microphone so it can listen to

has a microphone so it can listen to

has a microphone so it can listen to what you’re saying it also has a

what you’re saying it also has a

what you’re saying it also has a proximity sensor so your phone knows

proximity sensor so your phone knows

proximity sensor so your phone knows when you’re holding it close or not it

when you’re holding it close or not it

when you’re holding it close or not it also has effectors these are things you

also has effectors these are things you

also has effectors these are things you could call them output devices I like to

could call them output devices I like to

could call them output devices I like to call them effectors there are things

call them effectors there are things

call them effectors there are things that affect you so the display being one

that affect you so the display being one

that affect you so the display being one of the more obvious ones also the

of the more obvious ones also the

of the more obvious ones also the speakers there’s vibrators inside and

speakers there’s vibrators inside and

speakers there’s vibrators inside and even the buttons when they move and

even the buttons when they move and

even the buttons when they move and click but be careful if you have an

click but be careful if you have an

click but be careful if you have an older iPhone and you press that home

older iPhone and you press that home

older iPhone and you press that home button you feel the click when it moves

button you feel the click when it moves

button you feel the click when it moves right if you have a newer iPhone you

right if you have a newer iPhone you

right if you have a newer iPhone you feel the click but it doesn’t actually

feel the click but it doesn’t actually

feel the click but it doesn’t actually move because there is no button there’s

move because there is no button there’s

move because there is no button there’s just a place for you to press your thumb

just a place for you to press your thumb

just a place for you to press your thumb inside there’s a little tiny device it’s

inside there’s a little tiny device it’s

inside there’s a little tiny device it’s called a linear resonant actuator that

called a linear resonant actuator that

called a linear resonant actuator that does a little vibration click and you

does a little vibration click and you

does a little vibration click and you feel that thump and you perceive that as

feel that thump and you perceive that as

feel that thump and you perceive that as movement it’s a fake but it’s a good

movement it’s a fake but it’s a good

movement it’s a fake but it’s a good fake because it’s synchronous and

fake because it’s synchronous and

fake because it’s synchronous and congruous so these little sensors and

congruous so these little sensors and

congruous so these little sensors and effectors are going to start showing up

effectors are going to start showing up

effectors are going to start showing up in all sorts of interesting everyday

in all sorts of interesting everyday

in all sorts of interesting everyday objects and they are going to get a lot

objects and they are going to get a lot

objects and they are going to get a lot more interesting they’re going to start

more interesting they’re going to start

more interesting they’re going to start being more aware and sensing subtle

being more aware and sensing subtle

being more aware and sensing subtle things about you just like a good

things about you just like a good

things about you just like a good relationship with other people they’re

relationship with other people they’re

relationship with other people they’re going to give you several cues that you

going to give you several cues that you

going to give you several cues that you need at times without being intrusive

need at times without being intrusive

need at times without being intrusive and just in general they’re going to

and just in general they’re going to

and just in general they’re going to become a lot more magical author and MIT

become a lot more magical author and MIT

become a lot more magical author and MIT researcher David Rose has a name for

researcher David Rose has a name for

researcher David Rose has a name for these objects these everyday objects

these objects these everyday objects

these objects these everyday objects that are becoming

that are becoming

that are becoming special to us he calls them enchanted

special to us he calls them enchanted

special to us he calls them enchanted objects and these objects we feel an

objects and these objects we feel an

objects and these objects we feel an emotional attachment to them because

emotional attachment to them because

emotional attachment to them because they are familiar and special and they

they are familiar and special and they

they are familiar and special and they understand us these are things that we

understand us these are things that we

understand us these are things that we love so is it possible to design for

love so is it possible to design for

love so is it possible to design for emotions to design in love if I were to

emotions to design in love if I were to

emotions to design in love if I were to ask many of you what product in your

ask many of you what product in your

ask many of you what product in your life do you love I’m guessing a number

life do you love I’m guessing a number

life do you love I’m guessing a number of you would choose your phone and part

of you would choose your phone and part

of you would choose your phone and part of that is because it yes it does some

of that is because it yes it does some

of that is because it yes it does some amazing things that capabilities of

amazing things that capabilities of

amazing things that capabilities of today’s smartphone is really incredible

today’s smartphone is really incredible

today’s smartphone is really incredible but more importantly it’s it’s

but more importantly it’s it’s

but more importantly it’s it’s interaction with you it knows things

interaction with you it knows things

interaction with you it knows things that you’re doing and gives you signals

that you’re doing and gives you signals

that you’re doing and gives you signals and even more important than that is

and even more important than that is

and even more important than that is what you can do with the phone and even

what you can do with the phone and even

what you can do with the phone and even more important than that is how you feel

more important than that is how you feel

more important than that is how you feel about yourself when you’re using the

about yourself when you’re using the

about yourself when you’re using the phone that’s worth repeating it’s not

phone that’s worth repeating it’s not

phone that’s worth repeating it’s not what it does but how it makes you feel

what it does but how it makes you feel

what it does but how it makes you feel about yourself I do consulting with

about yourself I do consulting with

about yourself I do consulting with business leaders who want to lead their

business leaders who want to lead their

business leaders who want to lead their organization be more innovative and they

organization be more innovative and they

organization be more innovative and they want to make products and services that

want to make products and services that

want to make products and services that people love that interact with them that

people love that interact with them that

people love that interact with them that engage with them and that they can

engage with them and that they can

engage with them and that they can establish a relationship to show that

establish a relationship to show that

establish a relationship to show that they care and connect with them and so I

they care and connect with them and so I

they care and connect with them and so I hope you see that by listening to

hope you see that by listening to

hope you see that by listening to thinking about that language of objects

thinking about that language of objects

thinking about that language of objects and being mindful of this we can make a

and being mindful of this we can make a

and being mindful of this we can make a more connected organizations that we all

more connected organizations that we all

more connected organizations that we all work in so I ask you to listen think

work in so I ask you to listen think

work in so I ask you to listen think about the secret language of objects and

about the secret language of objects and

about the secret language of objects and I hope that you will never see the world

I hope that you will never see the world

I hope that you will never see the world around you the same way again I hope

around you the same way again I hope

around you the same way again I hope when you come to that confusing door

when you come to that confusing door

when you come to that confusing door you’ll know it’s not you it’s the

you’ll know it’s not you it’s the

you’ll know it’s not you it’s the designer because all of these objects

designer because all of these objects

designer because all of these objects there are people behind them that did

there are people behind them that did

there are people behind them that did this that made these things and just

this that made these things and just

this that made these things and just like a poet can put together letters

like a poet can put together letters

like a poet can put together letters and words to make beautiful things that

and words to make beautiful things that

and words to make beautiful things that move us we can use the secret language

move us we can use the secret language

move us we can use the secret language of objects to make better connections

of objects to make better connections

of objects to make better connections between people and the world and make it

between people and the world and make it

between people and the world and make it a more thoughtful feeling place thank

a more thoughtful feeling place thank

a more thoughtful feeling place thank you

[Music]

[Music] you