airhockey over a distance
In modern society, people increasingly lack social interaction, although beneficial to work and personal life. Airhockey Over a Distance addresses this issue by recreating the social experience facilitated by physical game play in a distributed environment. We networked two airhockey tables and augmented them with a videoconference. Concealed mechanics on each table allow for a physical puck to be shot back and forth between the two locations. Supporting the hitting of a fast-moving, tangible puck between the two players creates a compelling social game experience which was confirmed by about 30 players. Our preliminary findings suggest that our casual physical game supports social interactions and contributes to an increased connectedness between people who are geographically apart.
social interaction videoconference connectedness physical interface exertion interface computer-mediated communication tangible interface air hockey