The Affection Research Lab has been created to develop Affection Stations and The Signal Archive, with the mission to become the seed of a device-affection development center and institution. ARL provides a counterpoint to today’s utilitarian computation culture and help to make affective computing and interaction more common. ARL fosters device-affection through the framework of the electromagnetic activity and incidental sounds of mobile devices.

ARL provokes a paradigm shift of our perception of mobile devices by poetically exploring electronic and digital transparency through the sound of electromagnetic activity. Rather than providing awareness or caution ARL instigates the design of electromagnetic activity, being productive with it — harnessing incidental sound. ARL delves into the seemingly organic chaotic nature of our electronic devices to develop human-computer affection and interaction design; and unveils a new way of looking at the inevitable electromagnetic spectrum.

• ANECDOTE
• INTRODUCTION
• 1. INTENTIONAL TO INCIDENTAL
• 2. NOISY VALUES
• 3. AN ARCHIVE THROUGH TIMBRE
• 4. AFFECTION STATIONS
• 5. CONCLUSIONS
• RESOURCES

Meta Words: Altered Perception, Affective Interaction, Productive Experiences, Immersive Intimacy Mega Themes: Sonic Interaction, Human-Computer Interaction, Designed Animism, Animism