Possible Uses of Interaction Design to Support Participatory Processes in Public Space and Pre-Tests Based on Visual Attention

Abstract

Technological developments have affected people's daily lives, triggered the production of hybrid experiences in urban space, and pioneered innovative methods in participation processes.This research aims to understand the potential of digital tools in urban space to support participation processes and consider interaction design as a way to establish a participatory relationship between citizens-technology-space. The literature on human-computer-built environments and urban interaction design has been examined briefl y in this direction.International examples have been detailed through the aim, technology, user, and participatory aspects.Inspired by the examples, three design proposals were developed on the Kabata-Ortaky axis (Istanbul-Turkey), and proposals are positioned on a pixel-based imagery editing program.Concerning the evidence-based design approach, 3M VAS software is used to detect the possible visual interaction of proposals through heatmaps, hotspots, and gaze sequences.As a result, it has been determined that interaction design approaches in public spaces have the potential to boost the hybrid public space experience for participatory purposes, and proposals can attract the users' attention visually as a part of the awareness process, which is also critical in deciding on the site.