Artifactual Codes: Use of Objects and the Environment

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Artifactual Codes Use of Objects and the
Environment
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What Are Artifacts?

• Defined as physical objects environmental
  attributes that
• Communicate messages directly
• Define the communication context
• Guide social behaviors
• Macro- and micro- environments

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Macro-environments

• Factors causing differences in development
• Climate
• Latitude
• Region
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Environment is directly tied to affective state

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Micro-environments

• Type of micro-environment
• Socio-petal
• Socio-fugal
• Seating arrangements
• Significance of configurations
• Significance of positions

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Micro-Environments

• Temperature
• Affects concentration and task performance
• Affects perceptions of attraction
• Color
• Associated w/ emotional state or moods
• Lighting
• Effects mood, attention, and interaction

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Micro-Environments

• Sound
• Various sounds are associated w/ inducing
  different moods.
• Background music is popularly used to induce
  specific emotional states.
• White noise may facilitate or inhibit task
  performance.

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Structural Features of Artifacts

• Fixed-feature elements
• Relatively permanent to the environment
• Very slow to change but communicative
• Semi-fixed feature elements
• Relatively mobile and changeable
• Selection of elements reflect preferences
• Arrangement effects interaction