A mouse that limits your ability to use your computer.
Description
AGGRO-MOUSE is a hacked computer mouse infused with Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) that intentionally limits one’s ability to use their computer if conditions are met. For instance, if you tend to open the same folder or drive over and over again, AGGRO-MOUSE will impede your ability to move the mouse towards that folder or drive on your desktop. The mouse monitors user habits and imposes restrictions when repetitive patterns are detected, such as frequently accessing the same folder or drive. When these conditions are met, the AGGRO-MOUSE disrupts the physical movement of the cursor, introducing friction into the user’s interface experience. This design probes the boundaries between user autonomy, machine agency, and the psychological impact of disrupted routines in human-computer interaction.
The AGGRO-MOUSE is an experimental device that reimagines the role of computer interfaces by deliberately disrupting user behavior. Equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI), this modified computer mouse actively intervenes in user interactions by introducing physical resistance to cursor movement. It monitors patterns of repetitive actions, such as frequent access to specific folders or drives, and imposes restrictions when these habits are detected. By doing so, the AGGRO-MOUSE creates friction in the user experience, challenging the conventions of seamless usability and exploring the psychological and behavioral effects of disrupted routines. Grounded in theoretical frameworks, the AGGRO-MOUSE challenges traditional notions of interface design. Drawing on James J. Gibson’s ecological approach to affordances, the device subverts the typical affordances of a computer mouse. While a standard mouse enables smooth and unrestricted navigation, the AGGRO-MOUSE alters this dynamic by deliberately obstructing certain actions. This intervention invites users to reflect on their adaptability to constraints and exposes the often invisible norms underlying interface design.
In contrast to Donald A. Norman’s principles of user-centered design, which prioritize ease of use and intuitive interaction, the AGGRO-MOUSE takes an opposing approach. Norman’s concepts of minimizing the “gulf of execution” (effort required to complete a task) and the “gulf of evaluation” (understanding system feedback) are intentionally disrupted. By introducing unpredictability and friction, the device widens these gulfs, provoking user frustration and prompting deeper consideration of habitual behaviors. This deliberate obstruction serves as a form of behavioral feedback, challenging users to reevaluate their reliance on repetitive actions. The AGGRO-MOUSE represents a radical rethinking of interface design, reframing interference as an opportunity for engagement and self-awareness. By juxtaposing Gibson’s and Norman’s theories, the device exemplifies how constraints can be leveraged to foster dynamic interactions. Its antagonistic behavior encourages users to confront ingrained habits, explore alternative workflows, and question the expectations of effortless usability. This experimental approach highlights the potential of impeding interfaces to stimulate critical engagement and transform human-computer interaction.
System
The project consists of a hacked computer mouse with motors instead of wheels that actively moves it’s users around their physical desk area and interacts with software that limits one’s ability to control their computer.
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