IdeaBits: Tangible design tool to aid idea generation for tangible user interface input actions

Novice tangible interaction design students often find it challenging to generate input action ideas for tangible user interfaces. There is no design tool to facilitate such idea generation. To address this gap, I designed and developed IdeaBits as an exploratory research instrument. IdeaBits consists of interactive physical artifacts coupled with digital examples of tangible systems and technical implementation guidance. I investigated how novice students use IdeaBits to generate tangible user interface ideas, how it supports them, and what challenges they face. I conducted an exploratory case study involving video recorded design sessions, remote observations, and semi-structured interviews with twelve students individually. The findings show that IdeaBits helped in generating input action ideas by enabling to experience the input actions, encouraging and facilitating hands-on explorations, and introducing possibilities. However, it fell short in supporting the technical implementation planning of the generated ideas. Also, introducing examples at times caused design fixation.