"Designing Calm Technology" by Mark Weiser and John Seely Brown, from Xerox PARC, December 1995, discusses the concept of calm technology, which aims to create technology that is less intrusive and more integrated with human information processing. The article introduces the "Dangling String," an artistic installation that visually and audibly represents network traffic, allowing users to perceive network activity without direct attention. It highlights how calm technology engages both the center and periphery of attention, enabling users to be aware of subtle cues without being overwhelmed. The article explores the idea of the periphery as a space where information is processed without explicit attention, and how calm technology can move between the periphery and center of attention. It contrasts this with technologies that are more intrusive, such as pagers and cellphones, which constantly demand attention. The concept of affordance is also discussed, emphasizing the relationship between objects and their usability. The text outlines three signs of calm technology: the ability to move between center and periphery, enhanced peripheral reach, and locatedness, which is the feeling of being connected to the environment. Examples of calm technology include inner office windows, Internet Multicast, and the Dangling String. Inner office windows enhance peripheral reach and locatedness by allowing communication between offices. Internet Multicast is described as a technology that can provide continuous communication between multiple users, enhancing peripheral reach and locatedness. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of designing calm technology to create a more human-centered future, where technology supports rather than dominates human interaction."Designing Calm Technology" by Mark Weiser and John Seely Brown, from Xerox PARC, December 1995, discusses the concept of calm technology, which aims to create technology that is less intrusive and more integrated with human information processing. The article introduces the "Dangling String," an artistic installation that visually and audibly represents network traffic, allowing users to perceive network activity without direct attention. It highlights how calm technology engages both the center and periphery of attention, enabling users to be aware of subtle cues without being overwhelmed. The article explores the idea of the periphery as a space where information is processed without explicit attention, and how calm technology can move between the periphery and center of attention. It contrasts this with technologies that are more intrusive, such as pagers and cellphones, which constantly demand attention. The concept of affordance is also discussed, emphasizing the relationship between objects and their usability. The text outlines three signs of calm technology: the ability to move between center and periphery, enhanced peripheral reach, and locatedness, which is the feeling of being connected to the environment. Examples of calm technology include inner office windows, Internet Multicast, and the Dangling String. Inner office windows enhance peripheral reach and locatedness by allowing communication between offices. Internet Multicast is described as a technology that can provide continuous communication between multiple users, enhancing peripheral reach and locatedness. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of designing calm technology to create a more human-centered future, where technology supports rather than dominates human interaction.