Remote Tangible Engagements

The researchers will explore tangible materials that can support dislocated physical experiences. Also, the research will study how such playful interactions can support grandparents and grandchildren in building and maintaining meaningful relationships over a distance. Ultimately, the research will yield new designs that will be evaluated with grandparents and grandchildren to address actual use and understand the consequences of these new playful materials on their relationship. The results of this project will contribute to the current technologies that are available to families by exploring new possibilities beyond audio and video. First, the researchers will explore the potential of new materials that can support communicative and playful engagement over a distance in a physical way. Second, the research will understand what constitutes a high-quality relationship between grandparents and grandchildren and, ultimately, give them new means to support their relationship. Social interactions between family members are important aspects of wellbeing. However, families are increasingly geographically separated. Digital tools may mitigate the emotional impact of physical distance by supporting communication via audio and video. Unfortunately, these technologies are limiting social interactions to talk alone, and fail to support touch and physical interactions. This research project aims to study how technologies can enable physical interactions between dislocated grandparents and grandchildren, who might experience negative consequences from this spatial separation, such as a loss of intimacy in the relationship. More specifically, the focus lies on supporting play in remote locations, by exploring novel designs for hybrid board games and toys.