Kelembai walk: encouraging cooperative interaction via design

In the olden days, many tools and technologies require the usage of human power. Therefore, the technologies will be more efficient if more people cooperate to use them. This is in contrast with today's technologies, many of which are designed to be operated by one person only. This paper presents the initial phase of a project that concerns the design and development of a technology which creates a necessity for people to cooperate. By using such a technology in a public space, it is hoped that a sense of community, as defined by the traditional Malay ways, can be revived. A technology probe called 'Kelembai Walk', which will be used in a participatory design process, is developed based on Presumptive Design. 'Kelembai Walk' is a multimedia application that uses pestles and mortars as interface devices. It will be displayed in an educational exhibition.