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Workshop on Designing Cute Interactive Media
 
Designing Cute Interactive Media

http://www.cutemedia.org <http://www.cutemedia.org/>  

In conjunction with

DIS2008

The ACM conference on Designing Interactive Systems

http://www.sigchi.org/dis2008/home 


24th February 2008

Cape Town, South Africa


Cuteness has an effective design philosophy that can be used in many areas to make emotionally engaging user interactive systems, as well as evaluate existing systems. Cuteness can also be included as an engineering design framework that can assist designers and engineers when creating engaging interactive systems that motivate the user in a happy, positive manner. 

We look at a range of experiences involving the idea of "cuteness" and its related components. From a psychological standpoint, there are cues that are well known that are instilled in us at an instinctual level. An example is the features of babies that bring out a nurturing and adoration response. Measuring these reactions however is less discrete and is more qualitative in nature. From a cultural standpoint, the definition of how cute something is and what it drives the user to do in response is not yet fully explored. 

The main goal of this workshop is to provide designers with a better understanding of developing ways to enhance the positive experience and effectiveness of interactive media by utilizing the psychological and culturally developed effects of cuteness. We would also like to explore a range of interactive experiences involving the idea of cuteness and examine the related components. Based on these experiences, the next generation user interfaces can be built to take advantage of the cuteness factor and its unique effects on the experience which can establish and maintain more meaningful relationships with the users and encourage happiness, self confidence, motivate the user to action, and provide overall positive experiences. 


Target Audience

The workshop will welcome experts and practitioners working in areas such as those listed above. This would also encourage researchers, engineers, designers, artists, philosophers, etc., who work on next generation interactive systems and interfaces to add new tools into their available palette of design approaches. In addition, students from many areas of focus will gain a broader understanding of the current issues in contemporary design and user focused research. This workshop also welcomes the business sector to contribute to and learn from the workshop as well. Market trends and influences discussions are among some of the important contributions from the business sector participants. We especially encourage from the business sector those who are involved in products of entertainment, child medical equipment, home appliances, etc. to be involved in this workshop to understand the cute factor and bring it to the general public which may benefit greatly from more positive feelings and emotions. 


Call For Participation

We are looking for papers and presentations that explore cuteness in interactive systems and the unique effects on the user. 

Submissions are encouraged which come from varied disciplines and identify issues in using cuteness to appeal to the user of interactive systems. This may include but not limited to the following fields of research: game design, interactive system design, new media arts, game studies, culture studies, psychology, Kansei engineering, and other fields that are related. 


Topics of submissions should have cuteness as a focus. The following is a list of suggested topics, however all aspects are welcomed: 

    * Describing cuteness in interactive systems

    * Variables that affect the cuteness factor, such as color, sound, etc.

    * Case studies of interactive system design using cuteness

    * Design frameworks that use cuteness as a guiding design goal

    * User motivation using cuteness in Serious Games or Educational Games

    * User issues using cuteness in entertainment games

    * Using cuteness in social networks

    * History of cuteness in interactive systems

    * User studies of cuteness in interactive systems

    * Cultural issues related to the perception of cuteness

    * Analysis of the Japanese concept of Kawaii

    * Kansei studies of cuteness as a design goal

    * Forecasting the role of cuteness in interactive systems

    * Character design using cuteness

    * Psychology of cuteness

    * Aesthetics of cuteness

    * Cuteness affecting patterns of play or social interaction and self-expression

We recognize that this narrow focus of "cuteness" research may have limited empirical results, yet is a promising field of new research. We welcome all submissions that can stimulate thought around the topic or generate ideas. 

Submission Guidelines

The workshop plans to include full and short presentations, demos, and posters. Interested participants are requested to submit up to a 6 page paper or 2 page poster/demo description in the ACM format (additional video links are encouraged) on the relevant topic for the workshop, including challenges and solutions for the development of cute interactive media. Submissions should be e-mailed as a PDF attachment on or before December 31, 2007 to [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> , videos should not be sent but be provided with a link.


Important Dates

December 31, 2007: Submission deadline for position papers

January 20, 2007: Acceptance notification

February 10, 2007: Deadline for Camera ready copies

February 24, 2007: Date of Workshop


Organizing Committee


Workshop General Chair

Adrian David Cheok, National University of Singapore, Singapore


Workshop Co-General-Chairs

    * Masa Inakage, Keio University, Japan

    * Masahiko Inami, The University of Electro-Communications, Japan 

    * Michiko Ohkura, Shibaura Institute of Technology , Japan

    * Naoko Tosa, Kyoto University, Japan

    * Ryohei Nakatsu, Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan

    * Ajith P. Madurapperuma, University of Moratuwa , Sri Lanka

    * Jeung Jihong, Kookmin University, Korea

Workshop Organizing-Chairs

    * Owen Noel Newton Fernando, National University of Singapore, Singapore 

    * Tim Merritt, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
 

Publicity Chairs

    * Janaka Prasad Wijesena, National University of Singapore , Singapore

    * Choi Yongsoon, National University of Singapore , Singapore

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