Abstract

This paper presents the design and evaluation of “the man-machine interface”
a punchable interface designed to criticise and react against the values inherent in
modern systems that tacitly favour one type of user (linguistically and technically
gifted) and alienate another (physically gifted). We report a user study, where participants
used the device to express their opinions before engaging in a group discussion
about the implications of strength-based interactions. We draw connections between
our own work and that of evolutionary biologists whose recent findings indicate the
shape of the human hand is likely to have been partly evolved for the purpose of punching,
and conclude by examining violent force as an appropriate means for expressing
thoughts and feelings.