Designing Antikythera— A tactile interactive poetry application for iPad

Abstract

Antikythera1, concept/authored by awarded Finnish poet Saila Susiluoto is a tactile2, interactive po- etry application for iPad and touchscreen tablets. It is based on the Antikythera Mechanism. A col- lection of over 200 poems across six story worlds, Antikythera is an audio-visual universe of gen- erative, experimental and game-like experience for reading poetry on screens. The app engages the reader through concepts such as non-linearity, randomness and appearing/disappearing lines that respond to the reader’s touch and sensor readings of the tablet device.

As the primary designer associated with the project, my role has spanned through various stages from concept to final production. As a MA thesis work, Designing Antikythera takes the form of a narrative dialogue for the body of work it represents. The thesis aims to discuss approaches, challenges and best-practices for designing tactile and interactive experience for touchscreens when the inspiration and design metaphors are inspired from a physical historical artefact such as the An- tikythera mechanism. While the primary aspect of the thesis is the production itself, relevant litera- ture review and discussion is aimed towards the academic relevance of topics such as digital design and interactive/generative narratives in the ever changing landscape of screens and technological advancements.

As our means of expression expand, what challenges do we as designers and storytellers face in how we think beyond the interface? Additionally, how do we focus on the overall experience and intent — be it reading, entertainment or adventure?