Tactile Experiences: User Interpretations and Meaning with Touch-Focused IT Artifacts

Although touch computing has become an everyday occurrence, there has been little research into the subjective meanings people may assign to touch-focused IT artifacts. Following an interpretive case study with tablets, we examine blogposts, aiming to document user interpretations of the tablet, and to investigate the role of touch and that of cognitive ergonomics towards the formulation of subjective meanings. Our findings illustrate that users focus their evaluations on the limited use of physical controls, the direct, without physical barriers, interaction and the new interaction modalities. These evaluations contribute to interpreting the tablet as a 'significant other', as well as having extraordinary abilities, or holding symbolic significance. Since designing for positive experiences entails grasping the relationship users develop with their IT artifacts, our study's results can enrich the literature of user experience, and inform design by offering insight into user interpretations and their tactile experiences.