Weather Watchers: Domestic Weather Observation as a Narrative Framework for a Practice-Based Design Research Project

Abstract

Domestic objects are increasingly embedded with computational features, and link to a network of other intelligent objects. These technology artifacts can use physical movement to describe the flows of data passing through our homes. Supported by Philips Design and the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, this research project takes domestic meteorology as a narrative framework for the design of networked, data-responsive prototypes. These weather devices are scattered over existing surfaces, mantlepieces, light fittings, and windows, and use movement to describe changes in the weather. In addition to providing a context for moving objects, meteorology offers some unexpected insights into our relationship with technology, and our use of technology as an ontological tool.