Towards Experiencing Eating as a Form of Play
There is an increasing trend in interaction design to engage with food. We note that most prior work targets instrumental benefits (for example see food tracking apps to manage nutritional intake). In contrast, in this article, we highlight the potential of technology to support eating as a form of play. We reflect on our own work to articulate two design strategies for game designers on how they can facilitate playful eating experiences using novel technologies. Ultimately, with our work, we aim to facilitate a more playful engagement around the way we eat.
Towards a Coming Together of Transhumanism and Play
We note a trend on utilizing interactive technology to extend human capacities through bodily cyborg-like integrations such as artificial limbs and implantables. This trend is often captured by the term "transhumanism", referring to the use of technology to extend human capacities. We find that many transhuman discussions appear to focus on instrumental benefits (i.e. exploiting opportunities to be more productive). We extend this by proposing engagement with transhumanism also from a perspective of "play". We reflect on our own and other's work to articulate three strategies for game designers on how they can engage with transhumanism when aiming to facilitate playful experiences. Ultimate…
Co-riding With My eBike to Get Green Lights
Researchers are increasingly exploring interactive technology supporting human-system partnership in an exertion context, such as cycling. So far, most investigations have supported the rider cognitively, by the system "sensing and presenting" information to assist the rider to make informed decisions. In contrast, we propose systems that promote user-system co-operation, by "sensing and acting" on information to assist the rider, not only "cognitively" but also "physically", with the aim of facilitating user-system co-operation in an exertion context. Our prototype, "Ari", is a novel augmented eBike designed to facilitate user-system co-operation, where the information that each party can …