All Outputs (35)

The limits of pretending (2015)
Journal Article
Turner, P., Hetherington, R., Turner, S., & Kosek, M. (2015). The limits of pretending. Digital Creativity, 26(3-4), 304-317. https://doi.org/10.1080/14626268.2015.1091778

We propose that pretending is a cognitive faculty which enables us to create and immerse ourselves in possible worlds. These worlds range from the veridical to the fantastic and are frequently realised as stories varying from the fictional to the sci... Read More about The limits of pretending.

Second virial coefficient of rod-shaped molecules and molecular dynamics simulations of the isotropic phase (2015)
Journal Article
Heyes, D. M., Turner, P., English, R. J., Williams, R., & Brańka, A. C. (2015). Second virial coefficient of rod-shaped molecules and molecular dynamics simulations of the isotropic phase. Physical Review E, 91(4), 042134-042144. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.91.042134

The second virial coefficient, B 2 is computed of linear rigid rods composed of m equally spaced sites interacting with sites on other rods via the hard-sphere or Weeks-Chandler-Andersen (WCA) pair potentials. The dependence of B 2 on a wide ran... Read More about Second virial coefficient of rod-shaped molecules and molecular dynamics simulations of the isotropic phase.

Enactive appropriation (2015)
Journal Article
Flint, T., & Turner, P. (2016). Enactive appropriation. AI & society, 31(1), 41-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-015-0582-y

The appropriation of digital artefacts involves their use, which has changed, evolved or developed beyond their original design. Thus, to understand appropriation, we must understand use. We define use as the active, purposive exploitation of the aff... Read More about Enactive appropriation.

Presence: Is it just pretending? (2015)
Journal Article
Turner, P. (2016). Presence: Is it just pretending?. AI & society, 31(2), 147-156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-014-0579-y

Our sense of presence in the real world helps regulate our behaviour within it by telling us about the status and effectiveness of our actions. As such, this ability offers us practical advantages in dealing effectively with the world. It is also an... Read More about Presence: Is it just pretending?.

Using participatory visualisation of soundscapes to compare designers’ and listeners’ experiences of sound designs (2014)
Journal Article
McGregor, I., Turner, P., & Benyon, D. (2014). Using participatory visualisation of soundscapes to compare designers’ and listeners’ experiences of sound designs. Journal of Sonic Studies, 6(1),

There are numerous rules and well-established guidelines to help designers with the visual appearance of interactive technologies. In contrast, when it comes to the use of sound, there is a paucity of practical information regarding design for euphon... Read More about Using participatory visualisation of soundscapes to compare designers’ and listeners’ experiences of sound designs.

Creating a sense of place with a deliberately constrained virtual environment (2013)
Journal Article
Turner, P., Turner, S., & Burrows, L. (2013). Creating a sense of place with a deliberately constrained virtual environment. International Journal of Cognitive Performance Support, 1, 54-68. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJCPS.2013.053554

This study took as its starting point the premise that a high degree of realism is not a necessary condition for the creation of a ‘sense of place’ in mediated experiences such as those presented through virtual reality. A sense of place is the sense... Read More about Creating a sense of place with a deliberately constrained virtual environment.

The “Book Problem” and its neural correlates (2013)
Journal Article
Turner, P. (2013). The “Book Problem” and its neural correlates. AI & society, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-013-0491-x

Presence research can tell us why we feel present in the real world and can experience presence while using virtual reality technology (and movies and games) but has strikingly less to say on why we feel present in the scenes described in a book. Jus... Read More about The “Book Problem” and its neural correlates.

How we cope with digital technology. (2013)
Journal Article
Turner, P. (2013). How we cope with digital technology. Synthesis lectures on human-centered informatics, 6(3), 1-109. https://doi.org/10.2200/S00519ED2V01Y201307HCI018

Digital technology has become a defining characteristic of modern life. Almost everyone uses it, we all rely on it, and many of us own a multitude of devices. What is more, we all expect to be able to use these technologies “straight out the box.” Th... Read More about How we cope with digital technology..

Enlightened trial and error (2012)
Journal Article
Turner, P., Turner, S., & Flint, T. (2012). Enlightened trial and error. Interaction Design and Architecture(s) IxDetA, 13/14, 64-83

Human-computer interaction as a rationalistic, engineering discipline has been taught successfully for more than 25 years. The established narrative is one of designing usable systems for users, some of whom have been described as “naïve”, safely ins... Read More about Enlightened trial and error.

The figure and ground of engagement (2012)
Journal Article
Turner, P. (2014). The figure and ground of engagement. AI & society, 29(1), 33-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-012-0439-6

Engagement is important to the success of applications, systems and artefacts as diverse as robotics, pedagogy, games, interactive installations, and virtual reality applications. Yet engagement has proved to be remarkably difficult to define as it c... Read More about The figure and ground of engagement.

Emotional and aesthetic attachment to digital artefacts (2012)
Journal Article
Turner, P., & Turner, S. (2012). Emotional and aesthetic attachment to digital artefacts. Cognition, Technology and Work, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-012-0231-x

We report a pair of repertory grid studies that explore the attachment people have for digital and nondigital artefacts. In the first study we found no clear distinctions between emotional attachment to digital and nondigital artefacts: people are... Read More about Emotional and aesthetic attachment to digital artefacts.

Designing for engagement (2011)
Journal Article
Turner, P., Flint, T., & Turner, S. (2011). Designing for engagement. Infrastructure journal,

An everyday account of witnessing (2011)
Journal Article
Turner, P. (2011). An everyday account of witnessing. AI & society, 27, 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-011-0323-9

This paper presents a discussion of an everyday ontology of witnessing drawing on the writings of Martin Heidegger, cognitive science and presence research. We begin by defining witnessing: to witness we must be present; and that which is witnessed m... Read More about An everyday account of witnessing.

Is stereotyping inevitable when designing with personas? (2011)
Journal Article
Turner, P., & Turner, S. (2011). Is stereotyping inevitable when designing with personas?. Design Studies, 32, 30-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2010.06.002

User representations are central to user-centred design, personas being one of the more recent developments. However, such descriptions of people risk stereotyping. We review the genesis and application of personas and kindred representations, and di... Read More about Is stereotyping inevitable when designing with personas?.

Familiarity with mobile phones. (2009)
Journal Article
Turner, P., & Sobolewska, E. (2009). Familiarity with mobile phones. VTT symposium, 258, 221-227

The end of cognition? (2009)
Journal Article
Turner, P. (2009). The end of cognition?. Human Technology: An Interdisciplinary Journal on Humans in ICT Environments, 5, 5-11

Mental models, magical thinking and individual differences. (2009)
Journal Article
Turner, P., & Sobolewska, E. (2009). Mental models, magical thinking and individual differences. Human technology an interdisciplinary journal on humans in ICT environments, 5, 90-113

Broadly, there are two mutually exclusive accounts of how people (non-specialist users) reason about and conceptualize interactive technology. The first is based on classical cognitive psychology and is characterized by the term mental model. The sec... Read More about Mental models, magical thinking and individual differences..

Triangulation in practice. (2009)
Journal Article
Turner, P., & Turner, S. (2009). Triangulation in practice. Virtual Reality, 13, 171-181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-009-0117-2

Triangulation is the means by which an alternate perspective is used to validate, challenge or extend existing findings. It is frequently used when the field of study is difficult, demanding or contentious and presence research meets all of these cri... Read More about Triangulation in practice..

The unfamiliar experience of an interactive movie (2008)
Journal Article
Turner, P., Turner, S., & Tully, G. (2008). The unfamiliar experience of an interactive movie. Behaviour and Information Technology,

Towards an account of intuitiveness (2008)
Journal Article
Turner, P. (2008). Towards an account of intuitiveness. Behaviour and Information Technology, 27, 475-482. https://doi.org/10.1080/01449290701292330

Intuitive systems are usable systems. Design guidelines advocate intuitiveness and vendors claim it - but what does it mean for a user interface, interactive system, or device to be intuitive? A review of the use of the term 'intuitive' indicates tha... Read More about Towards an account of intuitiveness.