ITI Showcases Child-Centred Innovations at IDC 2024
The Interactive Technologies Institute participated in the 23rd annual ACM Interaction Design and Children (IDC) Conference, which took place from June 17-20, 2024, at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. As a premier global event, IDC 2024 provides a significant platform for researchers, educators, and practitioners to share groundbreaking research, innovative methodologies, and new technologies focused on inclusive child-centred design, learning, and interaction. The conference fosters a convergence of cutting-edge ideas and interdisciplinary collaboration.
ITI’s Contributions to IDC 2024
Workshop on Participatory Design with Young Children
One of the key highlights of ITI’s involvement is the workshop titled “Participatory Design with Young Children: Failures, Challenges, and Successes”. Organised by Katharina Buckmayer, Filipa Rocha, Elisa Rubegni, Reem Talhouk, Hugo Nicolau, and Ana Cristina Pires, this workshop aimed to delve into the intricacies of participatory design (PD) involving young children. The session explored the often-overlooked role of young children as co-designers and discussed the failures, challenges, and successes encountered in previous projects within the child-computer interaction (CCI) domain. By sharing experiences and lessons learned, the workshop aimed to enhance the understanding and methodologies of PD with young children, setting the stage for more effective future practices.
Demo: Periodic Fable in the Wild
In addition to the workshop, ITI members Sandra Câmara Olim, Pedro Campos, and Valentina Nisi presented an innovative demo titled “Periodic Fable in the Wild: Bringing Chemical Elements to Life and Making Them Relatable to Preteens”. This project offers a gamified learning experience that combines Augmented Reality, gamification, and real-world integration to teach preteens about the Periodic Table and organic chemistry. By allowing users to explore physical spaces, gather atoms, and create chemical compounds, the app aims to make learning more engaging and meaningful through a pedagogical situated learning approach.
Key Roles in the Organizational Committee
ITI’s involvement extends to the organizational committee of IDC 2024. Cristina Sylla, a researcher at ITI and Coordinator of the Mobeybou project, has served as a Technical Program Chair, ensuring the technical excellence and coherence of the conference program. Isabel Neto, another ITI researcher, has taken on the role of Research and Design Competition Chair, overseeing the competitive aspect of the conference and fostering innovation among participants.
The participation of ITI’s members underscores the institute’s commitment to advancing research and practice in the field of interactive technologies for children.
