Emotion and Belonging (2 split books)

Emotion

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feelings

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Belonging

Received and Approved Chairperson Emotion and Belonging

Santiago Piedrafita

by I-Hsuan Lee

MAY 2017

Primary Advisor

Alex Liebergesell Bachelor of Fine Arts in Commercial Design

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology June 2011

Š 2017 I-Hsuan Lee A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of Master of Fine Arts, Communications Design School of Art and Design Pratt Institute

MAY 2017

Resource Advisor

Karen Dunn

MAY 2017

Resource Advisor

Liz Seibert Turow

May 2017

MAY 2017

Student

I-Hsuan Lee

MAY 2017

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RESEARCH QUESIONS 4

INTRODUCTION 12

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ABSTR ACT 8

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PROCESS AND METHODOLOGY 60

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CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER DIRECTIONS 94 97

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L I T E R AT U R E REVIEW 32 39

CAPSTONE 80 89

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HISTORICAL AND CONTE X TUAL FR AMEWORK 40

D E L I M I TAT I O N

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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CONTRIBUTION S TAT E M E N T 90 93

BIBLIOGRAPHY 98 99

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 10 0

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS

How can people better exchange emotional responses through different forms of communication?

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How can distance communication strengthen and extend the duration of emotional bonds between people?

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ABSTR ACT

This thesis focuses on How people build their sense of belonging and connectedness with each other, and how emotions are evoked through different forms of communication.

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The ways in which people connect

through their senses and technology will be analyzed. This study aims to inspire

designers to develop communication tools for storytelling in order to allow users

better share and express their emotions and have more meaningful interaction across time and distance. Specifically,

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it will explore innovative experiences

involving distance communication that 0

aim to fulfill people's need to belong, and decrease individual loneliness.

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INTRODUCTION

Social connection can be defined as “a person’s subjective sense of having close and positively experienced relationships with others in the

social world (Seppala, Rossomando, and Doty, p. 412).” That social connection is a critically

methods. Research will be conducted on how

by many psychologists and researchers.

people accumulate with others, and create new

Even though it is evident that modern technology

emotional bonds. Moreover, not only the sense of

it hasn’t been able to completely transmit and

gain further insights into human connection.

issue, different forms of distance communication

With the aim to build deeper and more enduring

they would in face-to-face communication will

study hopes to benefit people who want to

important human need has been demonstrated

enables people to stay connected all the time,

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represent their emotions. In order to address this

communication tools can trigger memories that intimate moments to extend the duration of their belonging but also loneliness will be explored, to

that allow people to share their emotions as

emotional bonds in human relationships, this

be explored, including verbal and nonverbal

enhance their attachment to others, and who are separated by different kinds of distances, whether physical, social or generational.

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This thesis is about...

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Exploring different forms of personalized sentimental messages.

Investigating diverse triggers that evoke people’s emotions.

Experimenting with various ways for exchanging messages.

Developing communication tools that connect people more effectively.

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This thesis is not about...

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Comparing the negative and positive influences brought about by technology.

Exploring if design can manipulate people’s emotions.

Developing substitutes of another person in a relationship.

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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Affinity is the natural liking for and understanding of

John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth point out that

in terms of sociology, refers to "kinship of spirit,”

that connects one person to another across time

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interest and other interpersonal commonalities.

Affinity is characterized by high levels of intimacy

and sharing, usually in close groups, also known as 4

affinity groups (Bidwell and Vander Mey, p. 45).

To belong means to be a member of a particular group

or organization (Oxford Dictionary). Abraham Maslow

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suggested that the need to belong was a major source of human motivation. He thought that it was one of

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five human needs in his hierarchy of needs, along

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I someone or something (Oxford Dictionary). Affinity,

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with physiological needs, safety, self-esteem, and self-

actualization. These needs are arranged on a hierarchy and must be satisfied successively. Roy Baumeister,

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along with Mark Leary, wrote a 1995 paper on the

need to belong. In the footsteps of Maslow, they also

believed that belonging is a human need. It is in our

nature, they state, to attempt to form meaningful and

attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond and space. Moreover, in Design and Emotion, Deana McDonagh states “Attachment to a product is a

positive emotional state of the relationship between an individual and a product (Deana McDonagh, p. 367).” I think attachment is the state of the

relationship between a person and a person, or a

person and a product, and it is across time and space.

lasting bonds with others. According to Baumeister

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and Leary’s belongingness theory, individuals have an evolved, and robust, need for closeness and

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social belonging. This theory suggests that natural selection favored individuals who maintained

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close bonds with groups because this attachment provided security, and facilitated reproduction.

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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An emotion is a strong feeling deriving from one’s

circumstances, mood, or relationships with others (Oxford Dictionary). In Discovering Psychology,

Hockenbury & Hockenbury claims that an emotion is a

complex psychological state that involves three distinct

Connectedness is the state of being connected 2

or related (Random House Webster’s College dictionary). It refers to the relationship

people build with others and the benefits

they bring to individuals as well as to society 6

(Wildevuur, Sabine, and Dick Van Dijk, p. 52).

components: a subjective experience, a physiological response, and a behavioral or expressive response

(Hockenbury & Hockenbury, p. 344). In The Nature of Emotions, Robert Plutchik states that in general, all

including feelings, psychological changes, impulses to action, and specific goal-directed behavior. In

other words, feelings do not happen in isolation. They are responses to significant situations in the life of

and entangled identities of persons and the things

formula “cognitive meaning + arousal = emotion” was

Chapman states that “Emotions play a key role in

an individual, and they often motivate actions. The

claimed by Dr. Gerald Cupchik, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. His theory suggests

“A meaningful association must first be perceived within an object before users may experience any

arousal and subsequent emotion (Chapman, p.109). ”

emotions are expressed through both physiological

In Handbook of Material Culture, Christopher Tilley

points out that an emotion is not simply a feeling

between people and objects, which implies intertwining

changes and stereotyped motor responses. He also

state: emotion is a complex chain of loosely connected events, the chain beginning with a stimulus and

claims, “Emotions... point out the very relationality

they make, exchange, use and consume.” Jonathan engendering resonant experiences with users of design” in Emotionally Durable Design. Also, Deana McDonagh suggests that emotion and memory are closely coupled.

“Emotional experience makes a profound imprint

on our long term memory.” Jonathan Chapman says, “ Emotions are compounded phenomena involving

expressive, behavioral, experiential and physiological

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facets. That is, emotional responses make up the very foundations of individuality: they are what distinguish one from others (Chapman, p.43).”

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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behavioral and reflective. Visceral design concerns itself with appearances and intuitive reaction.

Behavioral design has to do with the pleasure and

effectiveness of use. While reflective design considers 2

the rationalization and intellectualization of a

product.” On the visceral level, people everywhere

generally interpret visual language in the same way.

People’s emotional responses to designs are similar.

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Nevertheless, the behavioral and reflective levels are

sensitive to experiences, training, and education, which means cultural and social views play important roles.

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unique affective experience of another person (a social-

neuroscience perspective on empathy). Empathy can be

Donald Norman, an expert in emotional design,

states “Objects are perceived on three levels: visceral,

Empathy is the ability to understand and respond to the

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The English word empathy is derived from the Ancient Greek word μπάθεια (empatheia, meaning "physical

affection or passion"). This, in turn, comes from εν (en,

"in, at") and πάθος ("pathos," "passion" or “suffering"). The term was adapted by Hermann Lotze and Robert Vischer to create the German word Einfühlung ("feeling

into"), which was translated by Edward B. Titchener into the English term empathy (Oxford Dictionary).

also seen as an interaction between two individuals who share each other’s experiences and feelings, although

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this exchange of feeling does not necessarily mean that one will act or even feel compelled to act in

support or sympathy. Empathy is a big part of what

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we think of as being human (Tettegah, p. 11). In The Development of Empathy: How, When, and Why,

the author also states that “The ability to empathize is an important part of social and emotional

development, affecting an individual’s behavior toward others and the quality of social relationships.”

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The process or fact of isolating or being isolated.

When someone is isolated means he or she

is far away from other places, buildings, or people; remote (Oxford Dictionary).

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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The way in which two or more people or tzzare

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is an emotional association between two people (Oxford Dictionary). The relationship process is triggered by an encounter and driven by development and

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(Wildevuur, Sabine, and Dick Van Dijk, p. 70).

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Loneliness is subjective and is measured by questions

that seek perceptions of relationships, social activity, and feelings about social activity. Loneliness is often viewed as the subjective counterpart to social isolation (“Social Isolation Among Seniors: An Emerging Issue”, p. 6).

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Social connectedness is described as the momentary

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connected, or the state of being connected. Relationship 3

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affective experience of belonging (Rettie, 2003). In

Social Connectedness: Concept and Measurement, the concept is described by Daniel T. van Bel along five

being aware of each other’s experience, both in

the relationship in one’s mind, which is the outcome

sadness), as well as awareness of things that happen

or her. Closeness: The experience of feeling close to

opinions and being on the same wavelength. In

rather to the social presence in one’s mind. Contact

The Case of SnowGlobe, the authors state that “Social

another person. Knowing each other's experiences:

from other frequently used higher-level concepts

dimensions: Relationship saliency: The prominence of

terms of subjective experiences (e.g. love, enjoyment,

of thinking of another person or being aware of him

in one’s life. Shared understanding: having similar

another. This does not relate to physical proximity, but

Designing to Support Social Connectedness:

quality: The perceived quality of social contact with

connectedness is strongly related, but different

such as belongingness and loneliness, each of which

describe a longer-term affective state, and which are not easily changed by a single social interaction.

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frequent communication may increase the intimacy in touch, and that “The need for connectedness

A sense of belonging and social connectedness is an essential human need that has already been investigated by many experts. In A Theory of

Human Motivation, Maslow states that “If both

the physiological and the safety needs are fairly

well gratified, then there will emerge the love and

affection and belongingness needs” (Maslow, p. 381).

It follows that individuals will hunger for affectionate relations with others, and strive with great intensity to achieve that goal. In Loneliness: Human Nature

and the Need for Social Connection, John Cacioppo

and William Patrick states, “When people are asked what pleasures contribute most to happiness, the 3

overwhelming majority rate love, intimacy and social affiliation above wealth or fame, even above physical health” (Cacioppo and Patrick, p. 5). The need for love and belonging include friendship, intimacy,

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affection and love, from family, friends, romantic

relationships, and work groups. In Roy Baumeister and Mark Leary’s belongingness hypothesis, they claim that “human beings have a pervasive drive

to form and maintain at least a minimum quantity of lasting, positive, and significant interpersonal relationships” (Baumeister and Leary, p. 497).

They believe that to fulfill the need of belonging, individuals need to stay in regular contact with

others in relationships, and relationships must stay

stable and ongoing. In Connectedness, Awareness and Social Presence, Ruth Rettie suggests that a sense of

connectedness is essential in human communication.

Based on her studies of various experts, Rettie points out that “the pursuit of connectedness is one of the three basic motivating principles which underlie

social behavior; this fundamental need for belonging and connectedness promotes social relationships.”

She furthermore claims “Communication can

create a sense of connectedness or feeling of being

is the most important factor in making a choice

between communication channels” (Rettie, p. 3).

While many experts are conducting research

on belongingness, they concurrently talk about loneliness, since loneliness and belongingness

share the subjective perception of connectedness to others. Loneliness is characterized by unpleasant feelings that arise when an individual perceives

a discrepancy between their desired and existing social relationships (Perlman, 2004). Gierveld

and Betty point out that an individual may have a large social network yet still feel lonely. In Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology and less from each other, Sherry Turkle says

that “In fact, being alone can start to seem like a

precondition for being together because it is easier to communicate if you can focus, without interruption, on your screen” (Turkel, p. 155). Meaningful and

of relationships. Cacioppo and Patrick claim that

loneliness can be predicted through the perceived meaningfulness or meaninglessness of people’s

encounters with others, which affects individuals' sense of belongingness and loneliness. They also

propose that the physiological sensations which are called emotions can help people, maintain stronger bonds, and that makes humans human (Cacioppo

and Patrick, p. 65). If people can feel others’ emotions and exchange their feelings well in relationships, they will feel more attached to them. However,

Turkle points out that modern people communicate with others in a language of abbreviation. That

is, when individuals talk on their smart devices,

letters stand for words and emoticons for feelings (Turkel, p. 19). “Now, technology makes it easy to

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express emotions while they are being formed. It

supports an emotional style in which feelings are

not fully experienced until they are communicated”

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world of unceasing technological miniaturization, (Turkel, p. 175). Sharing and perceiving emotions

completely in human communication has become more difficult because of modern technology.

The fact that emotions also play an essential role in creating experiences, from both the creator’s and

user’s ends, has been suggested by experts in various

disciplines. For instance, behavioral scientist Donald

Norman believes that everything people do and think is tinged with emotions, and emotions reflect our

personal experiences, associations, and memories.

He formulates a theory that categorizes design into 3

three emotional levels: visceral, behavioral and

reflective. Psychologist Dr. Gerald Cupchik put forth the formula: cognitive meaning + arousal = emotion.

He suggests “A meaningful association must first

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be perceived within an object before users may

experience any arousal and subsequent emotion”

(Chapman, p. 103). In Emotionally Durable Design,

author Jonathan Chapman states, “In today’s restless

the need for objects capable of perceiving potent

Sherry Turkle talks about the distance and

emotional resonance is greater than ever” (Chapman,

“People purchase wine or expensive water for special

in engendering resonant experiences with users of

occasions, creating an emotional value. Products,

p. 101). He points out that emotions play a key role

design. He also suggests that designers can regard “ to provide material artifacts that evoke some kind of emotional response from the users” as their

role (Chapman, p. 106). Anna Moran studies well-

known items to figure out how love and emotion are

embodied in material form. In Love Objects:Emotion, Design and Material Culture, she claims, “Meaning draws from one’s experience, the context in which

we encounter the objects” (Moran, p. 137). Norman

also agrees with the idea. He states: “materials and space cannot give meaning to an object by itself.

People become attached to things if they have a

significant personal association, if they bring to

mind pleasant, comforting memories” (Norman, p.

46-47). He provides an example to prove the idea,

occasions, and the bottles serve as mementos of the therefore, become meaningful objects because of the memories, which often trigger long-lasting

emotions” (Norman, p. 65). To elaborate upon the

idea, Chapman also provides his personal experience.

His son, Jasper, gave him two stones and called the stones “Jasper and Daddy”. These stones always

remind Chapman of the memorable time when he and his son were at the beach. To him the stones

are “a memory container, a totem, a symbol, a time

machine, a connection” (Chapman, p. 65). Objects can act as connections and memory containers because

they enable people to form meaningful associations.

Therefore, it is possible that if communication tools

can make human communication more meaningful by acting as containers of shared memory and

channels for emotional sharing, and so emotional bonds between people can be strengthened.

connectedness between modern people in her book: “Being connected depends not on our distance from each other but from available communications technology” (Turkel, p. 165). She suggests that

while technology has increased the efficiency of

human communication, it has broken the boundary between physical and virtual worlds. “Technology makes it easy to communicate when we wish and to disengage at will” (Turkel, p. 13). She says all

her friends are a tap away from her, which means she can text a greeting to friends or tell them

she is thinking of them even though they don’t

have time to talk. Nevertheless, she also points out that mobile technology has made modern

human “pauseable.” She claims, “Our face-to-face

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conversations are routinely interrupted by incoming calls and text messages. In the world of paper mail, it was unacceptable for colleague to read his or her

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states that “new social tools allow users to share

their everyday life. This represents a major change correspondence during a meeting” (Turkel. p. 161).

Technology has redefined what distance means today.

To further elaborate, she states that through digital

devices people now talk with others who are far away, but not with those physically nearby. Distance is no

longer the amount of space between two places, it is a state in which people are not connected to others. It

can be a physical, social, generational, or cultural gap.

How to use design to shorten the “distance” between

people is therefore very important to modern society.

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Even though Turkle and others suggest that

technology increases alienation in modern society,

many experts believe technology has already brought, and will continue to bring, a more positive impact 8

to human communication. That is, new technologies have found their way into human interaction, and

they have made communication an immediate, farreaching phenomenon. For example, Aaron Walter

in the way that we communicate in the virtual

world” (Walter, p. 3). In Talk to Me, Paola Antonelli says, “With ever more-sophisticated movements

and voice-recognition software, objects are being

transformed from tools to companions, and buildings from enclosed shelters into open environments” (Antonelli, p. 11). Technology has brought more

possibilities to human communication. As Antonelli suggests, “Interfaces whether on smartphones or

facades, whether composed of pixels, LEDs, or neon

tubes, are laid on the surfaces of objects, spaces, and buildings, but provide them with communicative

depth and dynamism” (Antonelli, p. 13). In Face-to-

face Communication Over the Internet, the authors

also claim, “In the virtual world, people feel sharing personal information is less embarrassing because

the other’s reaction is invisible.” (Kappas and Nicole,

p.67). That is, individuals are more willing to express their feelings and thoughts through technology.

Moreover, studies also show that digital devices are able to make individuals more willing to talk to

others in public spaces. In The Effect of Technology

on Face-to-Face Communication, Emily Drago points out that, “ mobile phone use in public actually

facilitated talking with co-present strangers, for those who frequently rely on cell phones to get

and exchange information about news” (Drago, p.

2). She also claims that “ research suggests digital communications enhance relationships and that

“the evidence consistently shows that the more you communicate with people using devices, the more likely you are to communicate with those people face to face” (Drago, p. 2 Another example that

Antonelli provides in her book, BakerTweet, also

validates the idea that designers can use technology to enhance a sense of neighborhood, and connect

people with street life (Antonelli, p. 98). A small

plain metal box, equipped with a dial, a button, and a screen, is designed for bakers to send subscribers immediate notices on Twitter when something

delicious just came out of the oven, so followers

in the neighborhood can stop by right when the

goods are ready. The BakerTweet “makes modern technology mimic a traditional local encounter,

like word passing from neighbor to neighbor,” and “The seamless line of communication between

makers and customers, in turn, renders the city

motor intimate” (Antonelli, p. 101). All the examples and research mentioned above convince me that

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thanks to advanced technology, communication design can discover more possibilities for

people to build attachments with each other, and to the groups that mean most to them.

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Connectedness is the state of being connected or related. It refers to the relationships people build with others and the benefits they bring to individuals as well as to society [...] The connections [...] help people to feel they belong and take part in society.

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( Wildevuur, Sabine, and Dick . Dijk, p. 52)

HUMAN NEED FOR CONNECTEDNESS AND BELONGING Many psychological theorists have demonstrated that social connection is a critically important

human need. People need to feel connected with others. For example, Maslow (1943) claims that

there are five motivational needs, and when one

need is fulfilled a person seeks to fulfill the next one. In A Theory of Human Motivation, he states “If both the physiological and the safety needs

are fairly well gratified, then there will emerge the love and affection and belongingness needs

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[...] Now the person will feel keenly, as never before, the absence of friends, or a sweetheart, or a wife, or children. He will hunger for affectionate relations with people in general, namely, for a place in his group, and he will strive with great intensity to

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achieve this goal (Leavitt, p. 27).� The need for love and belonging encompasses friendship, intimacy, and affection, which can be fulfilled by family,

friends, romantic relationships and work groups.

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WAYS TO CONNECT The ways in which people stay connected to others

In 1959, Fromm­Reichmann stated that “the longing

have been evolving since the beginning of human

for interpersonal intimacy stays with every human

communication. Some of them are mainly verbal,

being from infancy throughout life; and there

some are based on written language, and others

is no human being who is not threatened by its

employ non-verbal communication languages,

loss. [...] The human being is born with the need for contact and tenderness.” Based on Maslow’s

related theory, Baumeister and Leary put forward a belongingness hypothesis in 1995, The Need to

Belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a

fundamental human motivation. They claim “The 4

belongingness hypothesis is that human beings have a pervasive drive to form and maintain at

least a minimum quantity of lasting, positive, and

significant interpersonal relationships. Satisfying

this drive involves two criteria: First, there is a need for frequent, affectively pleasant interactions with a few other people, and, second, these interactions

must take place in the context of a temporally stable and enduring framework of affective concern for

each other's welfare. Interactions with a constantly changing sequence of partners will be less

satisfactory [...] relatedness without frequent contact 4

will also be unsatisfactory (Baumeister and Leary, p. 497). ” zTherefore, frequency of communication and interaction in a relationship is important.

such as facial expressions, body language, and gestures. Non-verbal and implicit forms of

communication are essential in maintaining the connectedness between people. Humans employ a multi-sensory approach when communicating and connecting with their loved ones.

Word-based Communication Forms Technologies such as letters, postcards, telegrams, phones, emails, instant texts, and video chats connect humans by providing safe spaces for

personal expression in verbal form. The love letter, a way to express romantic feelings in written

form, is one of the oldest methods of word-based communication. One of the first love letters in

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the world appeared more than 3500 years ago in

the Bhagavatha Purana. It is a letter carried from 5

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During times of war, letter-writing was

particularly essential: it was the main form of

communication between soldiers and their loved ones and contributed deeply to the well-being

of the soldiers. The British Army Postal Service

Rukmini to Krishna by her Brahmin messenger

delivered almost two billion letters during World

Sunanda. Many examples of romantic letters are

War One. Receiving letters from family and

recorded through history and play an important

friends was vital to soldiers because it kept them

role in our culture, such as the love letter King

connected to the homes they had left behind. A

Henry VIII wrote to his second wife Anne Boleyn 4

letter from Emily Chitticks to her fiancé, which

in 1527. He express his affection “Darlyng

is in the collection of the Imperial War Museums

thowght I haue scant laysor yet remembryng my

in London, showed that people would write to

pmes [...] I make a nende off my letter wryttyn

Source: Imperial War Museums Website 4

stay in touch and comfort soldiers in war. In

wt the hand off hym whyche I wolde wer yours.”

the document, Emily wrote “My Dearest Will, I feel I must write you again [...] I know how you

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Source: That Boleyn Girl on Flickr

must have felt darling when you did not get my

letters for so long”. It is a very touching example of the emotional depth of this medium.

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As electronic mails (email) have become near

fearful, so he only tells the girl that he had a nice

emails, instead of letters, to contact others because

she edits her text several times. At the end, both

universal, many people nowadays prefer to write

time. Likewise, the girl shows fewer emotions after

of its efficiency and convenience. After email’s

invention, different kinds of online communication, such as MSN, group chat room, and instant message applications, provided people numerous ways to

connect through digital platforms. The efficiency has clear benefits, but it also makes one feel less

emotionally attached to another, since individuals communicate with others in an abbreviated 4

language. That is, people now use emojis to transmit complex human emotions to take the place of facial

expressions in face-to-face communications. People talk to others in shorter sentences than before, 8

of them fail to express their true feelings and the so they can talk and reply as quickly as they can.

Also, since individuals are able to easily retype

and edit each sentence on a digital platform, many would think about what they would like to say

twice or even more before they actually send out

the messages. A short film by Nick Dorazio, which shows how a girl and a guy talks online is a clear

example. The director splits the screen, so on the

left side, the audience can see the guy is typing, and on the other side, we see the girl’s chatting screen.

The guy is trying to ask the girl out again after

their first hangout. However, while he is thinking about how to phrase his words, he becomes more

Imagery

potential second date never happens. This short film

In addition to verbal communication methods,

a relationship by revealing that sometimes people

connectedness with others through images.

demonstrates how instant messaging could ruin

are afraid to show their real thoughts and emotions online, because they cannot perceive the emotional response from the other. This hesitation lessens the possibility of expressing their true feelings.

it is also very common for people to foster their Portraits, pictures, and symbolic icons are all

commonly used for people to remember others.

Portrait miniatures are an interesting example. As

Robin Jaffee Frank explains: “[...] the large portrait was intended to be displayed on the wall while the

smaller version was meant to be worn or cherished

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in private. [...] miniatures were often substitutes for an absent loved one (Frank, p. 1).” Portrait

miniatures were especially popular in 16th century

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Touch Keeping hair from a loved one is also another way to build intimacy between people. In a England and France. They were widely used by

soldiers and sailors who traveled frequently and by the spouses of those who were far away. In modern

letter which Blanche Butler Ames wrote to her fiancé, Adelbert Ames, in 1870, she mentioned

that she intended to send him a lock of her hair

times, the photographs many carry in their wallet

because it represented intimacy. Even though it

smartphones play a similar role. Gisela Cánepa

loved ones represents a sentimental or intimate

and the background pictures of loved ones on

was unusual in her time, exchanging hair with

Koch, the author of Photography in Latin America:

bond enacted in reality and mirrored in fiction

Images and Identities Across Time and Space, 5

Source: Philip Mould Company

points out that “Photos that people carry in their

wallets can be easily transported and generated as

Source: TECNOCINO

(Aronson, Julie, and Marjorie E. Wieseman, p. 65).

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the illusion of company (Koch, p. 212).” Pictures that are preserved in photo albums, carried as 0

personal items, or displayed in frames can all be

seen as substitutes for the company of loved ones.

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HISTORICAL AND CONTEXTUAL FR AMEWORK

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Smell That smell of a person can comfort another

has been demonstrated through history and

research. For instance, Napoleon wrote a letter to his mistress, Josephine, and told her “I will

return in three days. Don't wash.” It shows that

Napoleon might enjoy the way she smelled when she hadn't bathed. Moreover, in 1931, Richard

von Krafft­-Ebing, a psychiatrist and the author

of the Foundational Work Psychopathia Sexualis, 5

put forth that people sometimes deliberately smell their sexual partners’ clothing. In his

book, he states that “among the natives of the

Philippine Islands when it becomes necessary 2

for an engaged pair to separate, they exchange articles of worn apparel, by means of which

each becomes assured of faithfulness. These

objects are carefully preserved, covered with kisses, and smelled.” Both men and women

agree that smelling an absent partner’s clothing

Moreover, it is also commonly seen that the smell

Research at University of Pittsburgh found that

The Snoedel, a sleeping and bonding aid for infants,

made them feel happy, comfortable, and secure.

66 percent of German women and 72 percent of

Pittsburgh women surveyed had, in the absence of their partners, slept with their clothing to

seek comfort (University of Pittsburgh, web).

of parents, especially mothers, can comfort babies. is a vivid example. The first Snoedel, which means

“snuggle” in Dutch, was created by a Dutch woman.

Snoedels are designed to absorb and retain the

mother’s scent within the fabric so as to calm the

baby in her absence. Mothers sleep with the Snoedel for a few nights so that when infants are holding

it, they can be comforted by their mother’s smell.

Snoedels aid the bond between mother and baby.

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Source: The Natural Baby

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INSPIRING COMMUNICATION OBJECTS TODAY

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Sharon Tettegah, a Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas states that “In the twenty-first century, technology can mean many things. For example, it could be software applications, hardware, social media, platforms, functional magnetic resonance imaging, mobile technology [...]

(Tettegah, p. 11).” New technologies have found their way into culture. This thesis will experiment with different forms of communication beyond conventional telephony and social media, in order to explore both tangible and intangible tools to develop novel communication experiences.

LumiTouch

Technology offers new possibilities for building relationships and strengthening human connections. For example, the interactive picture frames LumiTouch designed by MIT Media Lab is technology that fosters human relationships. It uses a picture frame as the trigger for exploring distant communication between couples in an emotional way. “When a user is in front of her LumiTouch, the corresponding LumiTouch will emit an ambient glow to

indicate her remote presence. This additional background information helps people figure

out if there is a recipient on the other end, or also if it is a convenient time to increase interaction levels [...] When a user picks up the picture frame and squeezes, the feedback display area illuminates to show that the picture frame has been squeezed. The display colors are transmitted over the Internet to the corresponding remote LumiTouch [...] The system was intended to allow users to develop an abstract form of emotional language(Chang, Resner, Koerner, Wang, Ishii, p. 2).”

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Source: MIT Media Labz 5

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HISTORICAL AND CONTEXTUAL FR AMEWORK

Waag Society Waag Society conceived the project Scottie, a playful

affective communication through the combination

project Scottie researched the possibilities of using

technology, wearables and sensor technology

abstracted white human figure, in 2007. “The

information and communication technology to

create virtual intimacy between long-stay absentees and their primary social contact group” (Waag

Society website). It was first developed especially

for 13-15 yeas old children who were hospitalized

of smart materials, wireless communication

(Waag Society Website). “Scottie is an object that not only facilitates effective communication,

but also possesses affective qualities of its own ( Wildevuur, Sabine, and Dick . Dijk, p. 128).”

change when they leave home to pursue their

education. Wouter van der Hoog, Ianus Keller,

and Pieter Jan Stappers developed the GustBowl, a project that was designed to improve the

connectedness between college students and their parents by bringing back the feeling of coming own GustBowl, a round dish that can hold the

who were separated from family and friends. The

things people take out of their pockets when they

children and their family members can have their

arrive home.The bowl sensors and the camera

individual Scottie, and each Scottie has its own

can detect movement and take snapshots of the

presence color. The Scottie’s head can visualize

things in it. Pictures and motion from one end can be transmitted to the other. The creators state that “The wobble and the picture constitute a “Gust of

Presence”, similar to saying ‘Mom, I’m Home!’ The wobble of the Gustbowl tells the mother her son

has come home and the picture gives reassures her

with an idea of what is happening with her son and

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reassuring her.” It is a non-­i nvasive communication

the presence of others by changing the color of

device that builds on the simple routine of coming

the lights in its head, and the body can represent 6

Many students’ relationships with their parents

home. Both the parents and the child have their

for a long period of time, and then applied to elderly

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GustBowl

home ( Hoog, Keller, and Stappers, web ).

they are playing with each other. It explores

Source: Studio Sophisti

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HISTORICAL AND CONTEXTUAL FR AMEWORK

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Music Mail

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Stuart Tayler, a UX and service designer, developed Music mail which allows him to send music to his family at home when he is not there, and he can receive feedback when the music is played. Music mail is a simple device that connects people. It explores the relationship between the Internet of Things and Service Design. The messaging and feedback service behind the device created the emotional connection between he and his family. Stuart Tayler said, “The first day I left the box at home and went to work was our wedding anniversary. I sent our firstdance song. When I got the email saying she was playing it, there was a strong emotive feeling of being connected (Tayler, web).”

Somebody

A project that integrates technology and humans in a critical way is Somebody by Miranda July. Somebody is a messaging service that asks strangers to deliver messages between friends. The strangers deliver the message verbally, acting as a stand-in.

Somebody intends to bring back the human factor in today’s messaging technologies.

Nevertheless, by allowing strangers to deliver private messages, the project points out how little people have come to value interpersonal communication in relationships.

The above examples demonstrates Paola Antonelli’s opinion that “With ever more­ sophisticated movements and voice ­recognition software, objects are being transformed from tools to companions, and building from enclosed shelters into open environments. ” (Antonelli, p. 11) As she suggests, technology can play a

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fundamental role in providing more possibilities for people to strengthen their sense of belonging and connection with others. People now can build deeper and more enduring emotional

bonds to other people across time and space.

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to write some words to her friend, and stated

SHARE TO CONNECT (CHINATOWN) or to whomever they want to share their thoughts

stay at the park mainly because they feel they

with the paper frames aims to bring people the

belong to the Chinese community, and they

want to stay socially connected. In order to find out what triggers can evoke people’s memory

and make individuals feel connected to others in relationships, I made Polaroid frames with

different captions, and asked participants to use

one of the frames when take a picture in the park.

The captions are: This reminds me of you, Never have enough time with you, The place I like the

and emotions. Asking audiences to take pictures

nostalgic feeling of physically sharing experiences.

Preparing postcards for people to write down their thoughts is another attempt at offering a personal and private vessel that enables participants

to share their sentiments. The postcards were designed with verbs that I consider the most

essential in human relationships, with a color

palette which indicates complex human emotions.

most in the city, Here reminds me of the place I

During the process, a woman confessed that she

for this, and Always have fun here. Besides the

but now they only contact each other through

used to go very often, I am here for you, I am here 2

vessels can better communicate affection. In this

I started this experiment in Columbus Park in Chinatown because I believe that seniors

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that written language and physical paper as

Polaroid frames, I also provided free postcards on which people can write to their loved ones,

used to frequently exchange letters with a friend, instant messaging, which makes her feel less

emotionally attached to her friend. Thus, she

really appreciated that she had an opportunity

experiment, because I had the chance to interact with groups of various backgrounds and ages, I found out that different groups of people need distinct prompts and environments in order

to be more open in sharing their thoughts. For instance, in my experiment, more traditional

Asians generally feel more embarrassed to share than Americans or Asians more influenced by

American culture. Based on this observation, I

believe that to better fulfill the human need of

exchanging emotions and feel a sense of belonging, communication tools should be developed

according to users’ characteristics, to make their

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communication more intuitive and spontaneous.

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platforms provide an opportunity to share

feelings and thoughts without the constraints

SHARE TO CONNECT (ONLINE) After the Chinatown experiment, I conducted another experiment on Instagram. I gave

participants the same captions and asked them to hashtag #sharetoconnect or send their pictures to @sharetoconnect, the account I created for

this experiment, so that while they are sharing

individual experiences, they can also see others’ 6

posts. The aim was to see if an audience would

respond in more expressive and articulate ways

online – a more public and accessible environment 4

for sharing, but a more private and personal

environment where people are shielded behind screens in their comfort zones. Since online

of locations and time, the audience shared more diverse memorable moments and experiences.

Photos of a belief, a dream, a plant, a familiar

scene, and so on were post on Instagram. Some

people tagged their loved ones with whom they wanted to share the story on their posts, even

though I did not specifically ask my participants to do so. From their responses, I noticed that

people like to send some shared moments which are special and meaningful to them and their friends, so they would feel more emotionally

attached in their relationships. Those personal experiences appear to be able to strengthen an

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individuals’ emotional bonds with others as their memories are evoked time after time.

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QUESTIONNAIRE After the Chinatown experiment, I conducted aAfter the research, I was very curious about

what triggers remind people of their loved ones

affectively. I therefore conducted a survey online. I

received responses from 22 individuals who are far

away from their home country, and gained insights

How often do you contact with your loved ones? (family, close friends, lover)

Rate how often do these triggers remind you of a specific other?

into what, how, when, and why triggers can evoke

people’s emotions. For example, a girl said her mom's handwritten note, which was left in her apartment during her mom’s visit, always makes her think

about her mom. Some individuals conveyed certain 6

events will make them think about specific people.

For instance, cooking very often reminds a girl of her mom, and playing video games makes a guy

think about his brother. Also, I found out that at 6

certain moments, such as when people want to share their accomplishments, when they feel vulnerable, or when it is a holiday, individuals will need more

company. At these moments, many of my respondents wish they had their loved ones around them.

Share your experiences of things reminds you of another. Who? When? Why?

Share experiences of when and where you wished a specific person were there with you.

Have you ever thought of another without any triggers?

When? Who?

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Which of the following triggers have ever reminded you of a specific other?

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Words

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Images

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Objects

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Smell

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Scenes

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Activities

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Texture

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Sound

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Light

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Color

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TRIGGERS

PEOPLE

FREQUENCY

Often

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Never

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tool with which people can interact very intuitively, and to build the act of sharing into people’s daily

routine in a way that they won’t feel burdened by

exchanging messages or emotions in relationships.

MESSENGER PLANT RACK Besides creating platforms for people to phrase

and share their emotions with their loved ones through imagery and written language, I also developed another communication tool that

enables people to deliver messages in a spontaneous 7

and unexpected way, Messenger Plant. Messenger Plant is equipped with a special bottom panel on

which users can write or draw messages in invisible ink, and when co-tenants waters the plant and the

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water drips down, the invisible message becomes

visible. People who water the plant can, therefore, receive messages unexpectedly. The aim was to create a simple yet interesting communication

Nevertheless, after I put the plant rack in my

apartment lobby for several weeks, I noticed that at

the beginning of the experiment, tenants felt it was a very novel and interesting arrangement, so many

people helped to water the plant every day. However, after they noticed that the message on the bottom wouldn’t show up instantly, people become less

motivated to interact with the plant rack. As a result,

it did not become a daily message delivery tool for the co-tenants. From this experience, I found out that a

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compelling communication tool should enable users to send and receive messages in a timely manner and in a very clear way, since getting effective

responses is essential in human communication.

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to spend the time while they were waiting to write

moved nor appreciative. Nevertheless, I said

thank you to her only because I wanted to be

UNEXPECTED MAILBOX From my personal experience, I also realized that even though making communication in human relationships a habit can let people

perceive their bonds more often, it can also make people feel less emotionally thrilled and think

of their communication as less meaningful. To

explain, I have been exchanging postcards with some friends for years. Whenever we travel to

different countries and cities we send each other 7

wait for trains. On top of the table I placed two

cry immediately because it was so touching. The

the other in pink. The blue mailbox is for people

message on Snapchat and her response made me message was not long, only two Chinese words

“ 加油 ”, which means “Hang in there”. I suddenly realized that the message was so emotionally charged because I never expected she would

reply to me with those words at that moment

through Snapchat. Compared to the postcards I had always expected to receive, the unexpected short message was much more moving.

postcards. It has become our habit. However,

In order to conduct a project that can encourage

postcards from these friends, since the exchange

unexpected medium and at an unexpected time

after a while I felt less and less excited when I got has become a humdrum routine rather than a

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polite. Within a few minutes, she replied to my

spontaneous act. One time after I got a postcard from my friend, I snapchatted her the postcard with the text “Thank you!” to notify her that

I got the postcard. I was actually neither very

people to send messages to others through an

and location, I set up a little table at the Hoyt-

Schermerhorn subway station in Brooklyn, a place where people usually do nothing besides scrolling on smartphones or reading books while they

handmade cardboard mailboxes, one in blue and to send letters to their loved ones with the intent that I will mail the letters for them. The pink

some warm and inspiring words for others. A

couple even stayed there to write a letter to a friend even as their train came and left. They discussed the content, entered the recipient’s name and

address, and then sealed the envelope carefully.

mailbox is for people to exchange emotions and

This experiment made me surprisingly aware

leave one letter in the pink mailbox, they can take

thoughts and emotions with others, and the

messages with the public. Whenever participants one letter out and keep it. I intentionally started

the project during the Thanksgiving holiday, since my survey showed that many people feel lonely

on holidays when their loved ones are not around.

They would surely want to be connected and

feel the sense of belonging. During the process, I noticed that a simple poster with the slogan

“Let your loved one know you are thinking about them” was able to stop people even though they

were in a rush to catch their trains. A girl quickly left a letter with “You are loved and you matter!” and then ran into the train. People were willing

that people are really willing to share their

fact that many people did not take a letter out

after they left one in the mailbox, showed that

“sharing” is more important than “exchanging” in human communication. Individuals like to share in order to connect to others. I am

convinced, based on passerbys’ responses and

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comments that the unexpected mailbox project

is lovely and inspiring, that providing an avenue in an unexpected way can really raise people’s awareness of sharing, and that unexpected

messages can inspire and move individuals more.

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ALONE TOGETHER To further address the human need to belong, I

station, in which there is already another post-it

subway stations. It aims to make people aware

and feelings about the 2016 American presidential

conducted another project, Alone Together, in two that all individuals feel lonely sometimes; all

human beings are “ together in this.” I designed

In comparing people’s responses to the posters

eternal quest of an individual human being is

people are more willing to share when they are

tearing off loneliness.” By setting “tear off” in

a very large font size and adding tear lines, the posters indicate to the audiences that they can

actually tear off parts from the posters. It aims

to make participants feel like that they are really eliminating their loneliness through the action

of tearing. After tearing the first layer, the poster reveals the message: “ We all belong”. The other 4

election; the other has somewhat less traffic.

two interactive posters, each having two layers.

The first layer delivers a common message, “The

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project that allows people to express their thoughts

poster reveals another interactive surface on which people can write about their loneliness. I mounted the posters at two subway stations, Union Square and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. One is a busy

at the two locations, I gained the insight that

aware that others are expressing their emotions too. That is, since passerbys at Union Square are

already in the mood of sharing, they seem more compelled to express their loneliness on my

posters. Moreover, after some people wrote that

they felt lonely, more and more individuals started

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to participate. I got responses from the public

more and more quickly. In contrast, passerbys

tore pieces off the posters I put in the 6th Avenue

station, but they did not share their loneliness as the audience did in the Union Square Station.

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SENTIMENTAL INSTRUMENT Since sound is one of the important elements

that people believe can evoke emotions, I therefor wanted to develop a project which using sound to

evoke people’s memory and emotions. I made this

more personalized, and they can change the overall

compose personal sentimental sounds for their

that memory. This sentimental instrument I built

interactive screen based instrument for users to

memories. In this project, users are able to choose one scene from the six moods I provided, which are sea, woods, train, city, playground and cafe, 7

and each scene is displayed with ambient sound.

Moreover, the system offers 12 sound clips that

users can add to the scene they chose to make it

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color of the scene to match the emotion states of

not only allows users to generate their individual

sounds but also offer them a platform to compose sounds with their friends. Two users can interact with each other on their own laptops. Through

this process, I was able to observe how two people

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intemperate their shared memory and how they render that memory. It allowed me to further

understand what and how colors can represent

one’s emotion state, and how evoking memories between people can connect them more.

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CAPSTONE

After exploring different media and methodologies, I gained five significant insights into how

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The two creatures are designed not only to deliver

communication tools can allow people to share

communication form that allow people to exchange

tools should be developed according to users’

capstone project, Poetic Messengers, as a prompt for

time can strengthen individuals’ emotional bonds;

exchange sentimental messages. Two abstract

human communication; unexpected messages can

One is designed to send messages and the other to

willing to share when they are aware that others are

playful shapes. Even though the shapes highlighted

I concluded that a novel communication tool that

to communicate poetic and surreal qualities. As

and evoke shared memories with their loved ones,

which were inspired by Scottie, the project designed

their emotion more effectively: communication

emotions with others at a distance. I used my

characteristics; evoking shared memories time after

future communication tools to help people effectively

“sharing” is more important than “exchanging” in

creatures were built as speculative message deliverers.

inspire and move individuals more; people are more

receive. I started prototyping the devices with blocky,

expressing their emotions. Based on these findings,

friendly and cute characteristics, they were not able

allows people to exchange personalized messages,

a result, I changed them to more abstract shapes,

will strengthen the emotional bonds in relationships.

by Waag Society in 2007. I made the creatures out of

Based on my own findings and Turkle’s opinion that

and it became firm fast after modeling. Secondly,

between physical and virtual worlds, I developed a

600, to refine the shapes and smooth the surfaces.

communications technology can break the boundary

clay and wooden sticks. The clay was easy to mold, I used sandpaper of different grit sizes, from 80 to

Finally, I used primer and spray paint to color them.

messages, but also to act symbolically as human

companions. With the creature that is used to send

messages, users are able to scan images, take pictures or record videos with the camera lens, positioned

as the creature’s eyes. Moreover, users can speak to

the device and it will deliver the messages with text or audio. In order to indicate that the creature is

listening to the user and recording the message, the lights around the area where the ear would be light up and content will show on an embedded digital

screen, which is located around the creature’s mouth area. When users receive messages from their loved ones, the receiving creature it will notify the users

through its characteristic melodies and lights. When

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the receiver accepts the messages, the messages

will pop up on a virtual screen, whether they are

text, images, or video. If it is an audio message, the

creature will play it through an embedded speaker.

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CAPSTONE

LENS

Scan Images / Take pictures PROJECTOR

Augmented Reality Projector

LIGHT

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New Message Indicator

LIGHT

Voice Activated Indicator

EMBEDDED DIGITAL SCREEN

Message Status Notification

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CAPSTONE

During the production process, I used a simple hand drawn storyboard to figure out how to shoot the

To further promote this idea and demonstrate

video, and how many scenes I would need to take.

the functionality of the devices, I made a two

I also went to several neighborhoods in Brooklyn

minute long video as a commercial for Poetic

to look for the best locations for shooting. Also, in

Messengers. I believe that a short narrative form,

which include sounds and visuals, is the quickest

way to engage the audience and make them relate.

The story begins with a depressed girl living alone in

the ubiquity of modern tools, and depicting

She looks sad and isolated. One day, the creatures

An promotional narrative peripherally addresses

human needs and desires is a simple yet effective form to convey a concept. Not only is this video 8

an advertisement of a novel commodity, but it

is also a story that emphasizes the significance of building emotional connectedness among

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order to convey the girl’s emotional state via this

people. While it is promoting new technology, it shows the aspirational goal of individuals.

a city, who has no friends or any other companion. at her place lights up. It seems like that one of the creatures wants to talk to her. After she touches its head, a virtual screen pops up in the air. A

message from an old friend shows up, and that

changes her mood completely. After receiving the

message, the girl replies through the other creature.

Exchanging messages through Poetic Messengers makes her emotionally connected to her friend, and she no longer feels lonely or depressed.

short narrative, I changed the overall tone of the video to go from black and white, low saturated

colors to vibrant and warm colors. With the goals

to evoke the audience’s emotions and to build the atmosphere of loneliness and connectedness, I

explored different cinematographic techniques,

visual elements, and sounds. I believe the insights

Besides being a designer and a director in this project, I was an actor as well. It gave me an opportunity to

observe and interpret human emotions from another perspective. I had to think about what gestures and

behaviors show that someone is lonely or emotionally fulfilled. I am glad that I decided to be my own actor because this allowed me to further understand

human mindset and needs. It was an inspiring and valuable practice for a communication designer.

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that I have gained from making these editing

choices can be applied to different spheres of design.

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CAPSTONE

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CO N T R I B U T I O N S TAT E M E N T

By exploring how to incorporate emotion in design, the attachment between people and communication tools can be strengthened. This thesis, therefore, can inspire more intimate and durable design.

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Communication design is a field that is concerned with how information is delivered to people.

Developing an effective way to convey messages

Forms that evoke emotions work more effectively

the field. As a communication designer, I regard

of personalized and individual attachment. The

between individuals is, therefore, essential to

every piece of information that designers want to

deliver to be a story. Technology has the potential to tell that story. This thesis aims to investigate more innovative and effective designs through

the exploration of simple narrative scenarios in human interaction, and in which people share their emotions and messages to connect with

their loved ones. The ways in which people share

research of this thesis, which focuses on how

people use communication tools to express and

receive emotions can be applied to other design

practices. The goal is to inspire more intimate and durable design. By exploring how to incorporate

emotion in design, the attachment between people and communication tools can be strengthened.

messages and express emotions are evolving because

Lastly, the research shows how people use all five of

into the latest ways in which people communicate

with themselves. In order to build a more affective

technology keeps evolving. By gaining more insight their personal feelings, designers can create

experiences which better support narratives.

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in human communication by fostering a feeling

their senses to immersively engage with objects and

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communication experience, this study explores triggers that people perceive in different forms, including

verbal and nonverbal communication tools. Discovered insights can be also applied to other design practices to build more engaging design experiences for users.

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CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER DIRECTIONS

Specifically talking about my capstone project, Poetic The experiments I have done for this thesis explore various communication forms and narratives.

belonging. Also, they have proved Turkle’s assertion

information through words and images across

today. Sentimental Instrument and my online

Share to Connect explores how people exchange digital to physical platforms. Messenger Plant

demonstrates how organisms can be vessels that help people exchange messages. Unexpected

Mailbox and Alone Together tests the difference

between exchanging messages in private and public environments. Poetic Messenger shows different 9

ways to personalize touching messages, and it is also a vivid testament of Antonelli’s idea that objects

and make a fake URL for purchasing the products, so I can tell how many viewers are intrigued and would

that technology has redefined what distance means questionnaire result validates Deana McDonagh’s

want to check out the product. If it is possible, I will

definitely want to make the devices actually function

belief about emotion and memory together playing

findings. For instance, if I was able to display the

relationships. Emotion and memory are closely

could have gained more insights into what holidays

essential roles in maintaining tighter bonds in human coupled. That is, shared memories between people,

and the triggers that remind them of those moments enhance the emotional bonds between individuals.

can be transformed from tools to companions.

However, due to the limited time I had for these

to enhance people’s sense of connectedness and

project to the highest quality and most compelling

These projects demonstrate that technology is able 6

Messenger, I want to put the advertisement online

experiments, I was not able to refine and finalize each form. I believe that some of my explorations could have been even more effective, or shown me more

unexpected mailboxes longer in diverse occasions, I most influence people’s sense of loneliness and connectedness. I might also have known what

point the expected mailboxes would become less inspiring to passerbys. Also, I would like to have

conducted Share to Connect in other neighborhoods, such as Jewish community in Brooklyn, Korean town in Manhattan and Latin American

neighborhood in Queens to know more about the cultural differences among the communities.

and become a viable product. Furthermore, I would be able to know how effective the advertisement is in promoting the commodity. I think it can

show me whether this narrative form works well at stirring human emotions. Moreover, since the

creatures are not yet function, I cannot get insights into how these devices can really affect people, and strengthen their emotional bonds. To conclude, I

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want to accumulate more research, experiments

and technical skills to build working devices and explore even more innovative technologies.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Antonelli, Paola. Talk to Me: Design and the Communication between People and Objects. New York,

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13

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My deep gratitude goes fist to Professor Alex Liebergesell,

completing this thesis would not have been possible

semester at Pratt. Alex expertly and patiently gave me

Design peers. They helped me to clear my thoughts and

who guided me through my graduate study since the first

valuable advices on various practices. Specifically, during

the challenging second year at Pratt, Alex leaded me going through different experiments and research with his

secondary advisors, Karen Dunn and Liz Seibert Turow.

the video for my capstone project. Mihai also helped me

Karen’s enthusiasm always encouraged me to explore any furthermore engaged with my experiments. Liz helped me to develop my projects with her amazing creativity. Also, with her logical mind and great knowledge, she helped

me to elaborate my idea in writing. I would like to thank

Professor Gaia Scagnetti, who helped me with developing 0

many technical supports during the production process.

I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Mihai

area that I found interesting. Her excitement kept me

0

generate idea when I was frustrated, and they gave me

comprehensive knowledge. He shared a lot of references

and resource with me. My appreciation also extends to my 1

without the assistance from my Grduate Communication

waiting in Seminar B. Her systematically instructions and clear suggestions leaded me to start the wring. Moreover,

Cernusca, who gave me incredible assistance in shooting to edit writing a lot. Moreover, I deeply appreciate that he has always been extremely emotionally supportive.

Last but definitely not least, I want to thank my family. My sister I-Shan (Lisa) Lee, who shared lots of graduate education experience with me,

helped me to overcome the challenges I faced. Also,

without my parents’ generous financial support and

encouragement, I would never have the opportunity to pursue and finish my graduate study at Pratt.