The Internet of Playful Things

The Internet of Playful Things addresses the research gap in the Internet of Things (IoT) field, which has historically prioritized utilitarian applications such as supply chain management and home automation over user experience and social interaction. The primary thesis posits that networked, smart objects offer significant, underutilized potential for facilitating social connectedness, improving well-being, and fostering intergenerational engagement. By shifting the focus from technical connectivity to socio-material interaction, the work seeks to establish a framework for designing playful, meaningful experiences through everyday objects.

The scope of this initiative is international, involving researchers from Australia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, and focuses on the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI) and playful design. The methodology centers on a collaborative, one-day workshop held at the 2015 CHI PLAY conference. This event utilized a combination of participant position papers, case studies, and design-led brainstorming sessions. By analyzing how object characteristics, human roles, and environmental contexts influence engagement, the participants aimed to develop a roadmap for a Model of Playful Connectedness.

Key findings emphasize that play emerges through the mapping of physical and digital information, requiring a deeper understanding of how users interpret smart objects. The research concludes that successful IoT design must account for the subtleties of human emotion, routine, and social dynamics. By identifying core challenges in designing these networks—such as cross-cultural engagement and support for children with disabilities—the initiative provides a foundation for future development in the field. The ultimate goal is to build a community of practice dedicated to creating smart environments that unite, excite, and engage users through playful, interconnected systems.