Thermal Scenarios (TEI ’25)

March 12, 2025March 12, 2025
project
by nhowell8

Towards Designing for Everyday Thermal Experiences

A gif goes through the pages of the pictorial, showing a range of illustrated thermal scenarios for everyday life. For example, one person feels warmth when gazing at the sun in a painting. Another group of friends shares a foot bath, each one experiencing a different temperature region of the same water bath.

This pictorial helps expand thermal interaction design toward more situated experiences in everyday life. First, we map existing thermal display applications and techniques, identifying an under-explored niche of thermal displays that rapidly change temperature (fast-switching) without touching the body (non-contact). Second, we explore this niche with scenarios showing everyday interaction possibilities, including Candlelit Dinner, Calming Compact Mirror, Social Foot Bath, Fried Ice Cream, Thermal Painting, and VR Diwali, among others. Finally, our discussion contributes design directions regarding heat as a design material, personalized thermal comfort in shared settings, cultural and emotional associations with heat in everyday contexts, and facial thermal interactions. Overall, this pictorial contributes to designing for everyday thermal experiences.

Publications

Sosuke Ichihashi, Kosha Bheda, Noura Howell. 2025. Towards Designing for Everyday Thermal Experiences. Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction.

Funding

Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. 2022.

Institute for Matter and Systems Initiative Lead Award. Georgia Institute of Technology. 2024.