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Yo–Yo Machines: Self-Build Devices that Support Social Connections During the Pandemic

Authors:

David Chatting,

Liliana Ovalle,

Michail VanisAuthors Info & Claims

CHI '22: Proceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Article No.: 458, Pages 1 - 17

https://doi.org/10.1145/3491102.3517547

Published: 29 April 2022 Publication History

Abstract

Yo–Yo Machines are playful communication devices designed to help people feel socially connected while physically separated. We designed them to reach as many people as possible, both to make a positive impact during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess a self-build approach to circulating research products and the appeal of peripheral and expressive communication devices. A portfolio of four distinct designs, based on over 30 years of research, were made available for people to make by following simple online instructions (yoyomachines.io). Each involves connecting a pair of identical devices over the internet to allow simple communication at a distance. This paper describes our motivation for the project, previous work in the area, the design of the devices, supporting website and publicity, and how users have made and used Yo-Yo Machines. Finally, we reflect on what we learned about peripheral and expressive communication devices and implications for the self-build approach.

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Cited By

Gubenko A(2024)Creativity, embodiment, and COVID-19: Discovering new research horizons under methodological and environmental constraintsPossibility Studies & Society10.1177/27538699241273734Online publication date: 19-Sep-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/27538699241273734
Koulidou NCarvalho LGleadow TPetrelli D(2024)The Development and (Mis)appropriation of a Digital Kit for JewellersACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/3702316Online publication date: 4-Nov-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3702316
Shakeri HYuan YAxtell BGeiskkovitch DNeustaedter C(2024)Designing Smart Home Technology For Passive Co-Presence Over DistanceProceedings of the 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3643834.3661508(3389-3406)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3643834.3661508
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

Yo–Yo Machines: Self-Build Devices that Support Social Connections During the Pandemic
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Interaction design

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Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

CHI '22: Proceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 2022

10459 pages

ISBN:9781450391573

DOI:10.1145/3491102

Editors:
Simone Barbosa
PUC-Rio, Brazil
,
Cliff Lampe
University of Michigan, USA
,
Caroline Appert
Université Paris-Saclay, France
,
David A. Shamma
Toyota Research Institute, USA
,
Steven Drucker
Microsoft Research, USA
,
Julie Williamson
University of Glasgow, UK
,
Koji Yatani
University of Tokyo, Japan

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Published: 29 April 2022

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Cited By

Gubenko A(2024)Creativity, embodiment, and COVID-19: Discovering new research horizons under methodological and environmental constraintsPossibility Studies & Society10.1177/27538699241273734Online publication date: 19-Sep-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/27538699241273734
Koulidou NCarvalho LGleadow TPetrelli D(2024)The Development and (Mis)appropriation of a Digital Kit for JewellersACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/3702316Online publication date: 4-Nov-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3702316
Shakeri HYuan YAxtell BGeiskkovitch DNeustaedter C(2024)Designing Smart Home Technology For Passive Co-Presence Over DistanceProceedings of the 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3643834.3661508(3389-3406)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3643834.3661508
Sontopski NHildebrandt SNischwitz LStephan KKurze AChuang LBerger A(2024)Wheel of Plush: A Co-Design Toolkit for Exploring the Design Space of Smart Soft Toy MaterialityProceedings of the 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3643834.3660744(2958-2971)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3643834.3660744
Hommes JKipp M(2024)Light Bridge: Improving social connectedness through ambient spatial interactionProceedings of the 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3643834.3660689(1658-1665)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3643834.3660689
Oogjes DDesjardins A(2024)A temporal vocabulary of Design Events for Research through DesignProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642560(1-12)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642560
Bilstrup KKaspersen MBouvin NPetersen M(2024)ml-machine.org: Infrastructuring a Research Product to Disseminate AI Literacy in EducationProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642539(1-16)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642539
Aljuneidi SGerstenberg RHassenzahl M(2023)DisClose: Negative Body-Related Self-Disclosure to Mediate Intimacy over DistanceProceedings of the 35th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference10.1145/3638380.3638391(114-127)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3638380.3638391
Brown DOvalle LMatsuda N(2023)A Practice-Based Approach to Post-Human Computer Interaction: Design Notes from Nature ScenesProceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction10.1145/3569009.3572802(1-14)Online publication date: 26-Feb-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3569009.3572802
Gamboa MBaytaş MHendriks SLjungblad S(2023)Wisp: Drones as Companions for BreathingProceedings of the Seventeenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction10.1145/3569009.3572740(1-16)Online publication date: 26-Feb-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3569009.3572740
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