Co-designing deformable organic user interfaces for early learning

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Maker Junior uses "maker" inspired projects to help kids learn about technology by combining traditional arts and crafts materials with electronic components and alternative conductive materials. Maker Junior is investigating new strategies for introducing children to creating with technology at a young age, by exploring novel sensors, types of circuits, and materials, a series of three dimensional toys that children can work on as part of a workshop, but are also available to taken home for further development. The research problem resides in the exploration of a novel interaction style, and involving children in the prototyping process, as well as developing contexts for this technology to be used by children. Grounded in the field of human computer interaction, our research challenge is to explore designing an organic user interface-a new interface using non-planar displays, such as flexible displays-as an educational toy. We will explore bending and deformation as novel inputs in circuits for kids. Building upon the applicant's research on deformation, we will co-design with children and develop lower and higher fidelity prototypes which we will empirically evaluate by conducting user studies with preschoolers. Creating deformations is a unique affordance when part of an activity that includes circuit building. In contrast to the traditional use of apps on touch screen interfaces such as iPads for activities, a deformable interface offers a tactile interaction with the technology where the feedback is tangible, experiential and physical. A bendable interface offers a huge opportunity for technical HCI research in this area due to the opportunities for designing with children in mind, as well as for designing for unique contexts of engagement and play with this technology. This project is expected to deliver hardware prototypes based around the use of OUIs as part of learning activities for preschoolers, as well as an evaluation of the prototypes and recommendations for further development. Maker Junior expects these to have an impact on their workshop product development and on the HCI community.