Continuous sonic interaction in books for children
Amalia de Götzen
Dept. of Computer Sciences
University of Verona
Verona, Italy +++ MEDIALOGY COPENHAGEN
degotzen@sci.univr.it
Davide Rocchesso
Dept, of Computer Sciences
University of Verona
Verona, Italy
davide.rocchesso@univr.it
Abstract
We present the prototype of a new digitally augmented
book for children, using sensors to allow continuous user
interaction and to generate (not just play back) sounds in
real time. This, in turn, will allow the user to intuitively
modify and control the sound generation process, and en-
gagement will certainly be boosted.
1. Introduction
Current commercial interactive books for children are
very often similar to conventional colored stories with the
addition of some pre-recorded sounds which can be trig-
gered by the reader. The limitations of these books are evi-
dent: the sounds available are limited in number and diver-
sity and they are played using a discrete control (typically
a button). This means that sounds are irritating rather than
being a stimulus to interact with the toy-book or allowing
for learning by interaction.
Pull-the-tab and lift-the-flap books play a central role in
the education and entertainment of most children all over
the world. Most of these books is inherently cross-cultural
and highly relevant in diverse social contexts. For instance,
Lucy Cousins, the acclaimed creator of Maisy (Pina in
Italy), has currently more than twelve million books in print
in many different languages. Through these books, small
children learn to name objects and characters, they under-
stand the relations between objects, and develop a sense of
causality by direct manipulation [9] [2]and feedback. The
importance of sound as a powerful medium has been largely
recognized, up to the point that there are books on the mar-
ket that reproduce prerecorded sounds upon pushing certain
buttons or touching certain areas. However, such triggered
sounds are extremely unnatural, repetitive, and annoying.
The key for a successful explo