Areca: A Design Speculation on Everyday Products Having Minds

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An increasing number of everyday products are being designed to possess qualities such as intelligence, consciousness, and emotion. However, there is a need for more understanding on how to design for these properties of mind. To address this, we present the design of Areca, an air purifier that keeps a diary. This paper outlines our design process, focusing on how the diary generation process gives Areca properties of mind and how its appearance and interaction design support this concept. Through exhibiting Areca in a design exhibition, we gathered people’s initial reactions and perceptions to further evaluate the effectiveness of our design intentions. Finally, based on these experiences, we engage in discussions on the design of products having minds.