Let’s take this conversation outside: Supporting embodied embedded memory

In a research-through-design project we developed NOOT, a tangible interaction device that links conversational context to texts and sketches generated during creative sessions. We assumed an embodied embedded cognition perspective; i.e.: cognition was assumed to be embodied in human activity and embedded in the local environment. Observations showed how post-its and sketches are used as cognitive scaffolds during the session, while being less effective as memory stores afterwards. Audio context enhances the scaffolding power of text and sketches such that they retain their meaning even outside the session’s context. NOOT thus supports embodied embedded memory; to be contrasted with digitalized explicit descriptions. We see embodied embedded cognition not just as a guide to interface design, but more fundamentally as a key towards finding new functions of digital computation within real, embodied embedded practices.