A Semiotic Approach To Investigating Presence

Abstract

these days are highly complex devices that consist not only of simple computational forms but also of complex cultural forms derived from other media. A good interaction designer understands this media and how combinations of components result in engaging interaction. Presented here is our semiotic model of interaction that considers the computer as a medium. As part of the EU Presence initiative we are contributing to developing measures of presence that will provide designers with a pattern language for designing presence. This new medium needs new approaches to assist designers and the semiotics of interactive systems is such an approach. In this paper we explore some of these new foundations. Our own work is to look at semiotics as a new foundation for interactive systems design. Of course semiotics is very old but if brought up to date it offers a level of discourse for discussing design issues that seems appropriate. We do not want to discuss the details of buttons and menus or the efficiency of tasks, as has been the focus of traditional HCI. We want to phrase discussions in terms of the interpretations, meanings and significances that people experience living in a world of interactive systems.