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The experience of enchantment in human–computer interaction

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Abstract

Improving user experience is becoming something of a rallying call in human–computer interaction but experience is not a unitary thing. There are varieties of experiences, good and bad, and we need to characterise these varieties if we are to improve user experience. In this paper we argue that enchantment is a useful concept to facilitate closer relationships between people and technology. But enchantment is a complex concept in need of some clarification. So we explore how enchantment has been used in the discussions of technology and examine experiences of film and cell phones to see how enchantment with technology is possible. Based on these cases, we identify the sensibilities that help designers design for enchantment, including the specific sensuousness of a thing, senses of play, paradox and openness, and the potential for transformation. We use these to analyse digital jewellery in order to suggest how it can be made more enchanting. We conclude by relating enchantment to varieties of experience.

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Acknowledgements

The work reported here was supported by a UK, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Visiting Fellowship, grant number 006R02641, and a Digital Technologies Research Studentship from Sheffield Hallam University. Permission to use images has kindly been given by the following: Fig. 1, ‘Afbeelding Omslag’ 1998. Brooch. Wool, silver. Iris EichenbergImage courtesy of Rob Koudijs, Galerie Louise Smit, Amsterdam.Photographer Ron Zijlstra. Fig. 4, ‘For Two Rings’ 1994. Magnets, stainless steel, perspex, LEDs with electronics. Nicole Gratiot Stöber © 1994 all rights reserved. Image courtesy Daniel Gratiot. Photographer Christoph Grünig. Fig. 5. ‘Light Jewellery’ 2001. Precious metal, synthetic crystal, LEDs with electronics. Christoph Zellweger in collaboration with Peter Russell Clark, Scintillate Ltd and Imperial College, London. Image courtesy Christoph Zellweger.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    John McCarthy

  2. Department of Computer Science, University of York, Heslington, Y010 5DD, York, UK

    Peter Wright

  3. Culture, Communication and Computing Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, S11 8UZ, Sheffield, UK

    Jayne Wallace

  4. Culture, Communication and Computing Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, S1 1WB, Sheffield, UK

    Andy Dearden

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  1. John McCarthy
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  2. Peter Wright
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  4. Andy Dearden
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Correspondence to John McCarthy.

Additional information

An earlier version of this paper was presented at Chi’2004 Fringe.

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McCarthy, J., Wright, P., Wallace, J. et al. The experience of enchantment in human–computer interaction. Pers Ubiquit Comput 10, 369–378 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-005-0055-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-005-0055-2

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