Touching Data Through Personal Devices: Engaging Somatic Practice and Haptic Design in Felt Experiences of Personal Data

Many of our everyday activities occur in digital spaces. As our personal devices become increasingly smaller, portable, and wearable, our notions of self continue to enfold and entangle not only with these devices, but the personal data they produce. While devices are tangible, the notion of personal data is one that is still highly intangible and ephemeral to the average user. This paper explores methods for making this data palpable through interactive, vibrotactile interfaces. Palpability is a term used by Thecla Shiphorst to "articulate an increasing physical yet invisible embodiment of technologies." [14] To this end, we look to somatic practices and haptic technologies to design felt experiences of personal data. We will share our own explorations into somatic-inspired design practices through a project titled Vibrant Lives.