each hardware interface is combined with a virtual representation



the "characters" which have different behaviours can interact



the interaction/communication is visualized and communicated



the result appears on the wall

Relational Play

Relational Play is the rediscovered focus. Based on the ideas of multi-user play, differing "perception" for each user, and the experiences gathered when watching children play and reading books about playgrounds and their design.
One of the most interesting fact were the usual time spans kids actually use a playground device.

• Swing: 5min
• Seasaw: 7min
• Roundabout: 6min
• Sandbox: 1h

This relates to the importance of free play which is stressed in all children's education books.

Relational Play firstly works with all elements which exist already and the ideas which could realize the "digital enhancement":

• Each playground device is a hardware interface
• Each hardware has a virtual representation, which is a software interface
• Each software interface has different attributes and features, which relate to the hardware interface (and it's possibility space)
• Through the individual attributes each virtual representation can be seen as a character
• The virtual characters can interact (both by user input and independently)
• The behaviours and relations between the chracters can be interpreted as Scenes of a story
• The design is independent of the playground's location and it's surroundings.


• Possible Software Interface Attributes:
  • illustration
  • control over movement (x,y Axis).
  • constraints in control
  • behaviour
  • physics
  • relations and interactions to others, possibilities for these.
• Possible visual connotations:
  • microcosm (amoebia, bacteria etc)
  • insects
  • flora and fauna
  • ...