More-than-Human Game Design: Playing in the Internet of Things

• Authors: Akmal Haider Ali , Coulton Paul
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The design of objects requiring human interaction often revolves around methods such as Human Centred Design (HCD). Whilst this is beneficial in many cases, contemporary developments of technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), which produce assemblages of interactions, lead to the view that human centred approaches can prove problematic leading to the proposal of adopting more-than-human perspectives. This study discusses the creation of a novel board game designed to explore a more-than-human design view for IoT products and services by addressing problematic issues in relation to user data privacy and security within the IoT which arguably arise from the application of traditional HCD approaches. By embracing Object-Oriented Philosophy, The Internet of Things Board Game creates an ontographic mapping of IoT assemblages and illuminates the tiny ontologies of unique interactions occurring within these digital and physical networked spaces. Here the gameplay acts as metaphorism illustrating independent and interdependent relationships between the various ‘things’ in the network. The study illustrates how critical game design can help develop potential new design approaches as well as enabling users to better understand the complex digital/physical assemblages they create when utilising IoT products and services in their everyday lives.

Keywords

EN

board game; design research; game design; internet of things; metaphorism; more-than human

• Publisher: Fakulta masmediálnej komunikácie Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda
• Journal: Acta Ludologica
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 72-92
• Physical description: Media and Communication, Game studies, Theory of digital games
• Document type: Article

Contributors

author

Akmal Haider Ali

• Lancaster University, Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts

author

Coulton Paul

• Lancaster University, Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts