Materials of Embodied Interaction

Embodied interaction refers to the way our perception of physical and social phenomena develops in interplay with the world we live in [6]. This paper explores the use of interactive textile interfaces to enable embodied interactions with a robot companion of play. More in detail, we investigate the possibility of achieving by design a shared perception with the robot, with the objective to stimulate reflection during play, development of play styles and learning of social competences. A research-through-design approach is used to investigate the emergence of social behaviors during play, by sparking embodied interaction between child and robot. Two prototypes embedding interactive textile modules have been developed: S-Bristle (sensible bristle), a pressure sensitive fabric module that enables sensory-stimulation games, and Interactive Fur an interactive soft woolen cover that sustains perceptual-motor coordination and symbolic games. Both modules have been developed using a phenomenology inspired design approach to embodied interaction, which focuses on perception and bodily experience as means to foster social skills.