CHI PLAY Bingo: Companion Proceedings of the 2024 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play

The CHI PLAY Bingo initiative serves as a practical exploration of human-computer interaction within academic conference settings, specifically focusing on transforming passive attendance into active engagement. By leveraging artificial intelligence and large language models, the project introduces a gamified layer to the symposium experience, encouraging participants to interact more deeply with conference content through a dynamic, AI-generated bingo format. This approach highlights the evolving intersection of natural language interfaces and social interaction design in professional environments.

The initiative reflects broader trends within the ACM SIGCHI community, where research into games and play has seen consistent growth in both academic submissions and practitioner interest. By utilizing AI to generate real-time, context-aware game elements, the project addresses the challenge of maintaining audience attention and fostering networking during large-scale research gatherings. The methodology centers on the application of generative AI to create interactive, user-centered experiences that bridge the gap between traditional presentation formats and modern, playful engagement strategies.

As a component of the 2024 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play, the work underscores the increasing importance of interactive paradigms in human-centered computing. The project has garnered significant attention, evidenced by its adoption and adaptation in subsequent conference proceedings, such as the development of similar AI-driven engagement tools for later CHI conferences. Supported by European Research Council and Horizon Europe funding, the initiative demonstrates a successful integration of theoretical HCI research with applied, experimental design, providing a scalable model for enhancing participant involvement in academic and professional discourse.