Fyro: A Symbolic-Based Phatic Technology

Abstract

This paper presents a symbolic-based phatic technology system. In contrast to previous work, which explored phatic technology as abstract-, object-, and behavior-based system, we designed Fyro as a symbolic-based system inspired by the symbolic use of fire in the ritual of lighting up a candle when thinking of loved ones. When a user lights up a candle in Fyro, a heart-shaped light on a remote Fyro is turned on, and it stays on as long as the candle in the other Fyro is burning. As a precursor to deploying Fyro in domestic settings, we demonstrated it in two future technology workshops to elicit user feedback. Data were analysed using affinity diagram. Although previous research indicates that users project their own context to create meanings in phatic interactions, our results show that symbolic universal traditions may be innovated to extend its meaning into such interactions.