Beeping socks and chirping arm bands: wearables that foster free play

Abstract

Three playful wearable accessories incorporate design principles that promote individuality, natural interaction, ubiquity, and intimacy to encourage spontaneous open-ended social interaction in school-age children. The Web extra at https://youtu.be/LBBe8iDeFrs demonstrates Wearable Sound, an accessory that transforms your movements into sounds. You can play the sound of a bird by moving your arms, the sound of bubbles while walking, or create your personal combination. You only have to wear the sensor, choose a sound, and use all your creativity to play!