BlocKit: A physical kit for materializing and designing for blockchain infrastructure

• Published in: DIS 2019 - Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference
• Main Author: Khairuddin I.E.; Sas C.; Speed C.
• Format: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Published: Association for Computing Machinery, Inc 2019
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85070606952&doi=10.1145%2f3322276.3322370&partnerID=40&md5=34273157b04813b499fc4daa5060afa9

Blockchain is a disruptive technology, which has significantly challenged assumptions that underpin financial institutions, and has provoked innovation strategies that have the potential to change many aspects of the digital economy. However, because of its novelty and complexity, mental models of blockchain technology are difficult to acquire. Building on embodied cognition theories and material centered-design, we report an innovative approach for the design of BlocKit, a physical three-dimensional kit for materializing blockchain infrastructure and its key entities. Through an engagement with different materials such as clay, paper, or transparent containers we identified important properties of these entities and materialized them through physical artifacts. BlocKit was evaluated by 15 experienced bitcoin users with findings indicating its value for their high level of engagement in communicating about, and designing for blockchain infrastructure. Our study advances an innovative approach for the design of such kits, an initial vocabulary to talk about them, and design implications intended to inspire HCI researchers to engage in designing for infrastructures. © 2019 Copyright is held by the owner/author(s).