Investigating the effect of digitally augmented toys on young children's social pretend play. Issue 3 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hong, Jiwoo; Ko, Donghyeon; Lee, Woohun
• Is Part Of: Digital creativity. Volume 30:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 161
• Page End: 176
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Children -- pretend play -- augmented toy -- digital play -- imagination; Computer-aided design -- Periodicals; Computer-assisted instruction -- Periodicals; Artificial intelligence -- Periodicals; 620.00420285
• DOI: 10.1080/14626268.2019.1653928
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-6268

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper takes an interaction design approach to explore how children perceive augmented toys, assign symbolic meaning, and perform pretence socially in technology-mediated playing. We developed a system with three kinds of toys—each with distinct abstract appearances and audiovisual augmentation—based on several design decisions. An observational user study with thirty-two young children aged 3–7 years revealed that children utilized digital augmentation as a facilitator of pretending behaviour with the possibility for subjective interpretation while substituting an object for another. Digital augmentation was not only a social cue for children to respond by gathering together and negotiating socially for mutual pretence—it was also a hindrance by amplifying conflicts in a shared space. Our study empirically clarifies children's cognition and behaviour in an interactive system for pretend play and provides broader insight for the design of an interface enriching symbolic interpretation and social interaction.