OurChannel consists of two boxes attached to the wall of each partner’s flat. Each box has a light switch on its front. This switch is connected to the ceiling light of the room just like any other wall-mounted switch. On the back side, concealed by the box, is another switch, connected to the ceiling light in the remote place. One can slip the hand into the box to operate the concealed switch without being able to see it. The idea is to make it feel as if reaching through a hole in the wall and fumbling for the switch on the other side. All four light switches have dedicated on- and off-positions. If a switch is operated, the corresponding switch of the remote device acts synchronously – operated by a servo. In other words, if one partner switches the light on in her room, the switch concealed in the box of the other partner changes its position as well. Or if the remote partner operates the concealed switch, not only the partner’s ceiling light is turned on, but also the switch mounted on the front flips to the on-position. OurChannel required some sort of “abstracted presence” system for us to decide, whether turning on the light for the partner fits his or her situation. To this end, OurChannel’s has slits between its front side and the frame. If the light in the remote place is on, small lights in the box are lit up to create the impression of light “sipping through” from the remote place. This creates the illusion of seeing whether there is light in the partner’s room or not. While this is rather ambiguous, ambient information, it supports getting an idea of whether switching on or off the light in the remote place may be appropriate or not.
Reference: W.-C. Chien & M. Hassenzahl. 2017. Technology-Mediated Relationship
Maintenance in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: An Autoethnographical Research through
Design. Human–Computer Interaction.
