Computational CraftLessons from Playful Experiences at the Intersection of HCI, Textiles, and Games

Gillian Smith Northeastern University

@gillianmsmith www.sokath.com

background

➤ computer science

➤ artificial intelligence

➤ human-computer interaction

➤ beyond computer science

➤ fiber arts

➤ jewelry

➤ history

➤ language

➤ play

➤ music

why craft?

➤ tangible, tactile

➤ rooted in old traditions

➤ feminine and feminist practice

➤ intergenerational

➤ storytelling

➤ aesthetic importance

craft as play

craft as play

craft and gender

craft and computation

example projects

textiles

computationplay

threadsteadinghooplaeBee

eBee

2016 Most Innovative Tabletop Game Award

ebee game

➤ connect patches

➤ build circuits

➤ light up LEDs

➤ team-based play

➤ collaborative and co-operative modes

value-driven design

➤ social

➤ collaborative

➤ creative

➤ intergenerational

affordance-driven design

➤ tactile

➤ simple

➤ borrowing motifs

➤ aesthetics

bridging crafting and making

➤ laser cut pieces

➤ soft circuits

➤ traditional quilting techniques

➤ hand- and machine-sewing

design accidents

➤ from workshop design to board game

➤ educational game

lessons learned

hoopla

human-computer authorship

➤ quotes pulled from online source

➤ keyword-driven color palette

➤ build keyword set

➤ generate collections

➤ human stitching

craft as computation

➤ algorithmic

➤ rendering process

➤ symbolic

➤ formal

computation as craft

➤ labor-intensive

➤ aesthetically-oriented decisions

➤ reflective

➤ shared authorship

generative design as formalism

➤ what is an embroidery sampler?

➤ curation of sets

public-facing

➤ what do individuals find compelling

➤ ephemeral nature of generated art

threadsteading

game for embroidery machines?!

➤ …and also for quilting machines

➤ strategy-based play

➤ machine stitches play-trace

affordance-driven design: machine

➤ slow play

➤ unknown score

➤ limit sewing back over spaces

➤ single unbroken line

affordance-driven design: medium

➤ even density

➤ hexagon motif

➤ storytelling

permanent traces of gameplay

➤ visualize the “story” of play

➤ commitment to making a move

play as generative design

➤ mechanics chosen for desired aesthetics

➤ players as enactors of rules

➤ many emergent maps

➤ player-executed procedural content generation

gender and computing

➤ computing in unexpected locations

➤ automation of highly gendered activity

➤ software for embroidery/quilting

➤ what else can we make?

craft, computation, and play

finding new audiences…

…and broadening horizons

adopting new technologies…

…and respecting old ones

Acknowledgments ebee team: Celia Pearce, Isabella Carlsson, Jeanie Choi threadsteading team: Jim McCann, Lea Albaugh, April Grow, Chenxi Liu computational craft: Anne Sullivan, Josh Tanenbaum, Karen Tanenbaum funding: Science Gallery Dublin, Disney Research Pittsburgh, Northeastern University College of Arts, Media, and Design

@gillianmsmith www.sokath.com