UbiComp 2010: Performative Workshop

Workshop Proposal

Designing for Performative Interactions in Public Spaces [pdf]

Building on the assumption that every human action in public space has a performative aspect, this workshop seeks to explore issues of mobile technology and interactions in public settings. We will examine the design of performative technologies, the evaluation of user experience, the importance of spectator and performer roles, and the social acceptability of performative actions in public spaces. The workshop will aim to bring together researchers and practitioners who are interested in the rapidly growing area of technologies supporting use in a public setting, and through this, explore the themes the workshop offers, plan for publications which synthesize together this disparate work, and finally to facilitate future collaborations between participants. [pdf]

Accepted Papers

Exploring Embodied Mediated Performative Interactions in Urban Space [pdf]

Ava Fatah gen. Schieck, Eamonn O'Neill, Petros Kataras
Digital media developments have augmented everyday interactions, creating visual and auditory interaction spaces that enable various types of performative experiences as we interact within a shared space. Our research investigates some of the types of shared interactions that such technology enables. In this short paper we summarise some of our research into applying methods based on intervention in urban space and playful use of technology, exploring how people appropriate the medium and perform embodied interactions in diverse contexts. We note the importance of constructing socially meaningful relations between people mediated by these technologies. [pdf]

Hi Kiosk! Help me plz, Performative interactions in a restaurant [pdf]

Vrishti Gulati, Bonnie Nardi
We see an increasing number of self service kiosks around us today: self-checkout kiosks in supermarkets, ATMs, vending machines, check-in kiosks at airports, ticketing kiosks, self order-and-pay kiosks in fast food restaurants and so on. These kiosks support contactless payment; customers can go through the process of ordering and payment without interacting with a human being. The paper explores issues of performance and identity in interactions with a self service kiosk in a fast food restaurant. This is studied in context of a youth populated site-a fast food restaurant at a University Campus. I conducted ethnography in a Jack in the Box restaurant, a popular American chain. The focus is looking at performative aspects in social and public settings. All interactions with the kiosk-the choice of using it to order food, glances, playful interactions, and looks when others are using it are viewed as exhibits of performance. Even non-interactions and ignorance of the kiosk display an aspect of performance. [pdf]

Bluetooth Enabled Performative Interactions in Public Spaces [pdf]

Freya Palmer, Ava Fatah gen. Schieck, Eamonn O'Neill
Mobile phones have become ubiquitous communication tools and are often highly personal, enabling novel means of interacting with others when negotiating public spaces. These features, together with the partially embodied nature of Bluetooth, mean that mobile phone based Bluetooth provides unique affordances with which users can interact with one another. This paper summarises some of our research into users' active Bluetooth use, their Bluetooth naming and interactions with publicly visible Bluetooth visualizations, exploring how people appropriate the medium in performing interactions in differing contexts. [pdf]

Physical Creativity and Performative Interaction [pdf]

Jennifer G. Sheridan
In this paper, we discuss a new form/class of interaction: physical creativity. We explore how exertion interfaces can promote physical creativity and the role that this might play in performative interaction, using children's playgrounds and clapping games a context for our pilot system and studies. [pdf]