An expert introduction to the world of "playful wearables" and their
design, with a wide range of engaging examples, case studies, and
exercises.
This pioneering introduction to the world of wearable technology takes
readers beyond the practical realm (think Fitbits, Apple watches, and
smart glasses) to consider another important side of the technology--the
playful. Playful Wearables offers an engaging account of what "playful
wearables" are, why they matter, how they work, how they're made, and
what their future might hold. The book's authors--Oğuz Buruk, Ella
Dagan, Katherine Isbister, Elena Márquez Segura, and Theresa Jean
Tanenbaum--draw on decades of experience in design, development, and
research to offer real-world examples, exercises, and implications,
showing how this kind of wearable tech can introduce an invaluable
element of play into our everyday lives.
As wearable technology emerges in the ecology of costume and fashion,
the authors consider its intimate connection to identity and culture.
And they look at the ways in which playful wearables, when smoothly
integrated into everyday social experiences, support social interaction.
The book then moves on to the mechanics of playful wearables--from
design strategies and frameworks to specific methods and game design
patterns--the building blocks for great playful, wearable designs. All
of these elements point to possibilities beyond the realm of games and
dedicated play, as the value and uses of playful wearables in the larger
world of self, society, and culture become ever more apparent.
