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Playful Wearables

Playful Wearables

Understanding the Design Space of Wearables for Games and Related Experiences

by Oğuz Buruk, Ella Dagan, Katherine Isbister, Elena Márquez Segura and Theresa Jean Tanenbaum

$40.00 Paperback

242 pp., 7 x 9 in, 50 b&w illus.

Paperback
9780262546911
Published: January 2, 2024
Publisher: The MIT Press

$40.00

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An expert introduction to the world of “playful wearables” and their design, with a wide range of engaging examples, case studies, and exercises.

This pioneering introduction to the world of wearable technology takes readers beyond the practical realm (think Fitbits, Apple Watches, and smartglasses) to consider another important side of the technology—the playful. Playful Wearables offers an engaging account of what “playful wearables” are, why they matter, how they work, how they're made, and what their future might hold. The book's authors draw on decades of experience in design, development, and research to offer real-world examples, exercises, and implications, showing how this kind of wearable tech can introduce an invaluable element of play into our everyday lives.

As wearable technology emerges in the ecology of costume and fashion, the authors consider its intimate connection to identity and culture. And they look at the ways in which playful wearables, when smoothly integrated into everyday social experiences, support social interaction. The book then moves on to the mechanics of playful wearables—from design strategies and frameworks to specific methods and game design patterns. All of these elements point to possibilities beyond the realm of games and dedicated play, as the value and uses of playful wearables in the larger world of self, society, and culture become ever more apparent.

Oğuz Buruk is Assistant Professor of Gameful Experience, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University.

Ella Dagan is an artist, designer, and doctoral candidate at the Social Emotional Technology Lab, University of California Santa Cruz.

Katherine Isbister is Professor of Computational Media and Jack Baskin Endowed Chair in Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, and author of How Games Move Us (MIT Press).

Elena Maìrquez Segura is a Beatriz Galindo Distinguished Researcher and Assistant Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department, University Carlos III of Madrid.

Theresa Jean Tanenbaum is an independent scholar, designer, artist, and interactive storyteller.

“Playful Wearables is a blueprint for building the technology we actually want: its case studies, design exercises, and thoughtful frameworks are good reminders that our technologies can be more imaginative, inclusive, personable, and—most of all—fun.”
Madeline Gannon, founder and principal researcher, ATONATON

“Wearable computing will soon dominate digital innovation. Want to build bridges between physical and digital reality? Playful Wearables contains the blueprints in the form of both thoughtful frameworks and concrete examples.”
Jesse Schell, Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University; author of The Art of Game Design

“Playful wearables are increasingly important in games, art, and life, and this book is full of valuable theory, methods, and advice concerning their design and development. A must-have for everyone in this dynamic field!”
Richard Lemarchand, Associate Professor, USC Games; author of A Playful Production Process