Visualising embodied interaction in design or why we laugh about monkeys

The context in which a device is used has a major impact on mobile device design. However, there are few system design methods available that assist user interface designers to represent use context in a useful and systematic manner throughout the whole design process. Current scenario-based design approaches are able to represent context, but still present a challenge to support a shared understanding of the rich context in which activities take place and to represent the embodied nature of actions and interactions. This paper reports on a method called Picture Scenarios. These scenarios provide an effective way of communicating and debating use context (within which activity unfolds) with design partners in mobile device design. The suggested format of the picture scenarios facilitates to represent use context during design activities in a systematic way. These scenarios are easy to create, easy to use and capture important contextual details about activity that is difficult to represent otherwise.