The aim of this thesis was to explore how computer embedded toys could be designed to support Free Play. Free Play is defined as creative, active and spontaneous everyday play activities where several children play together. This kind of natural play behaviour finds little support in the interactive toys of today. To address this problem a design example, developing an interactive Free Play toy, was conducted. The design example is to inspire other interaction designers and guide them in the exploration of this new design space. In this exploration, the conceptual constraints inherited from traditional computer science must be overcome to utilise the true possibilities of computer technology as a design material. Through the visions of Ubiquitous Computing, the Spookies, a new kind of computer embedded Free Play toy, was developed. The Spookies define a fun alternative to modern computer games and interactive toys. Not by restraining the play with rules and structures, but by giving children a flexible Free Play tool to use as they see fit - a tool to support them in their natural everyday play activities, introducing a new role for computer technology in the area of Free Play.
Keywords
Free Play, Interactive Toys, Ubiquitous Computing, Embedded Computing, Tangible Interfaces, Physical Programming, Interaction Design, Spookies.
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interaction design | chalmers
