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all done so automatically, so naturally, that we are often unaware of how much we depend upon sound for our spatial sense and for our knowledge of the events in the world.
    There are lessons to be learned from these natural interactions with the real world. Although simple tones and flashes of white or colored light are the easiest ways for designers to add signals to our devices, they are also the least natural, least informative, and most irritating of means. A better way to design the future things of everyday life is to use richer, more informative, less intrusive signals: natural signals. Use rich, complex, natural lights and sounds so that people can tell whether a sound is in front or behind, up or down, what the material and composition is of visible objects, whether an expected event is near in time or far, critical or not. Not only are natural signals less intrusive, but they can be a lot more informative, always inthe background making us, if only subconsciously, aware of the state of ongoing processes. They are easier to identify, so we no longer have to scurry about trying to find the source of the signal. Natural, yet providing continual awareness. The natural world of sound, color, and interaction is also the most satisfying. Want an example? Consider the whistling kettle.
The Sound of Boiling Water: Natural, Powerful, and Useful
    The sound of water boiling in a kettle provides a good example of a natural, informative signal. This sound is produced by pockets of heated water moving about, creating sounds that change naturally until, at last, a rapid, “rolling” boil is reached, at which time the teakettle settles down to a continuous, pleasant sound. These activities allow a person to tell roughly how close the water is to boiling. Now, add a whistle to signal when boiling has taken place, not through some artificial electronic tone but by enclosing the airspace in the spout, letting a small amount escape through the opening. The result is a naturally produced whistle, one that starts slowly, at first weak and unsteady, then progresses to a loud, continuous sound. Does it take some learning to predict how much time is available at each stage of the process? Sure, but the learning is done without effort. After listening to the sounds of boiling water a few times, you get it. No fancy, expensive electronics. Simple, natural sound. Let this be a model for the other systems: always try to find some naturally occurring component of the system that can serve as an informative cue about the state of things. Maybe it is a vibration, maybe sound, maybe the way light changes.
    In the automobile, it is possible to isolate the passenger compartment from most of the vibration and sounds. Although this might be a good idea for the passengers, it is a bad idea for the driver. Designers have had to work hard to reintroduce the outside environment in the form of “road feel” to the driver through sound and vibration of the steering wheel. If you use an electric drill, you know how important the sound of the motor and the feel of the drill are to accurate, precise drilling. Many cooks prefer gas ranges because they can more rapidly judge the degree of heat by the appearance of the flame than by the more abstract dials and indicators of the newer types of cooktops.
    So far, all my examples of natural signals come from existing appliances and devices, but what about the world of future things, where autonomous intelligence increasingly takes control? Actually, if anything, these completely automatic devices provide even richer opportunities. The sounds of the little cleaning robot scurrying about the floor remind us that it is busy and let us subtly monitor its progress. Just as the pitch of the vacuum cleaner’s motor naturally rises when items get stuck in its hose, the pitch of the robot’s motors tells us how easy or hard it is finding the task. The problems with automation occur when something breaks