Augmenting Co-Located Social Play with Biofeedback: An Interactional Approach

The integration of biofeedback into co-located social gaming transforms physiological data from a clinical metric into a dynamic tool for interpersonal interaction. By shifting the focus from individual monitoring to the social interpretation of biosignals, this approach treats heart rate, skin conductance, and temperature as communicative cues rather than precise emotional indicators. In environments such as bluffing games, these signals function as strategic assets that players leverage to detect deception, offer hints, or establish social connections. The core thesis posits that the inherent ambiguity of biofeedback is not a technical failure but a functional feature that encourages players to construct shared meaning and navigate complex social dynamics during gameplay.

Empirical evaluation of the AMIA prototype reveals that players actively incorporate physiological data into their decision-making processes, utilizing it in approximately one-quarter of bluff-challenging scenarios. Participants demonstrated a high degree of agency, attempting to regulate their own physiological responses or using the technology to distract and deceive opponents. While the fast-paced nature of certain games and the complexity of data representation present initial barriers to entry, the research indicates that these challenges are mitigated as players gain experience. Low-fidelity feedback serves as an effective entry point for novices, while higher-fidelity data, such as historical physiological trends, allows experienced users to interpret nuanced shifts in their opponents' states.

The effectiveness of this technology is most pronounced in turn-based games characterized by incomplete information, where fragmented visibility allows players to manipulate the feedback to their advantage. By acting as a social icebreaker or a self-imposed handicap, biofeedback enhances engagement and fosters deeper interpersonal connection. Ultimately, the successful implementation of these systems relies on intuitive design that accommodates a learning curve, ensuring that the technology serves as a catalyst for social play rather than a distraction from the core gaming experience.