DESIGNING PLAYFUL WATER EXPERIENCES USING INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Being in water can facilitate play and wellbeing; yet, most research interested in designing technologies for water activities has focused on instrumental contexts, such as improving athletic performance. This leaves little understanding of how technology can support more playful ways of experiencing being in water. My research explores how interactive technologies, including virtual reality, biosensors, and wearable devices, can enrich the way people experience being in water in different aquatic settings. Using a body-focused design approach and evidence from users’ studies, this research proposed the Aquatic Interactions Framework, a design tool to guide future designers in creating playful water experiences.