The applications of tangible embodied and embedded interaction (TEI) in facilitating intergenerational active play

What is the purpose of this research?

The purpose of this study is to generate ideas for a new interactive toy to promote active play between older adults and children.

Are you looking for people like me?

We are looking for grandparents and preschool grandchildren (3-5 years, up to 7 years). The child could be grandchild or great-grandchild, or another young child the older adult plays with regularly. The parents can elect to be involved in the study.

What will you ask me to do?

Your participation will involve a video-recorded and audio-recorded creative workshop at one of QUT design labs that will take approximately 120 minutes.

These recordings will only be used for data analysis purposes in accordance with ethics guidelines of the university. The recordings will not be shared outside of the university and can only be accessed by members of the research team.

Specifically, your involvement includes:

• bringing or taking photos of some active play toys or items to the study
• talking about the items or toys to help us find inspiration. The child can either use this time to play with the toys and their interaction will be recorded or join in the discussion to talk about their favourite toy
• using your body movement to describe your ideas of new active play games or activities
• reviewing all of your ideas at the end of the workshop
• drawing your ideas on a big sheet of paper together with the participating child (optional activity).

The parents can be involved in this study by helping to supervise their children. During the observation, the parents can interfere if the child is upset or injured, but they must not influence or instruct how the older adult and child play. During the discussion, the parents are free to play with the child or join in if they wish to provide any insights.

Your participation in this research project is entirely voluntary. If you do agree to participate you can withdraw from the research project without comment or penalty. You can withdraw anytime during the workshop. If you withdraw within 2 weeks after the workshop, on request any information already obtained that can be linked to you will be destroyed. Your decision to participate or not participate will in no way impact your current or future relationship with QUT (e.g. your grades).

You will be able to review your ideas at the end of the workshop.

Are there any risks for me in taking part?

There are some risks associated with your participation in this research project. These include:

• Risk: You may experience inconvenience as the study is quite long.
  • Strategy: The research team will discuss with you in advance to ensure that the study suits your availability. We will try our best to stay on schedule. There will be multiple breaks during the study but feel free to tell the team if you need a longer break.
• Risk: You may experience discomfort from being observed and recorded for a relatively long period. Recording equipment may be distracting for children out of curiosity.
  • Strategy: There will be multiple breaks during the study. We will not use bulky cameras and recording equipment to ensure the children’s safety. It is not possible to participate in the study without being audio and video recorded. However, you are welcome to not sign the image release forms.

• Risk: The children might fall or hurt themselves while playing with the toys.
  • Strategy: We will discuss with you and the parents to choose a location with little trip and fall hazard. Parents will also be invited to help supervise their children during these sessions to minimise risks. The interaction between you and the child is the focus of the study, so parents’ interventions must be kept at a minimum. The parents can intervene if the child is upset, or injured, but should not influence or instruct the play.

• Risk: You may experience discomfort during the study due to an existing health complication such as chronic pain.
  • Strategy: We will tell you in advance what activities you will be doing. We will make it clear on the participant information sheet that moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity should be undertaken with permission from your general practitioner (GPs) and/or doctor. You are also welcome to take a break anytime.

• Risk: You may not be familiar with the design activities during the creative workshop.
  • Strategy: We will send you more information on the workshop and are happy to explain the activities to you through phone calls or email.

• Risk: We may have to visit your home to conduct research, which might cause little disruption to your daily routine.
  • Strategy: We will organise the study in consultation with you. We will also tell you who is coming on the day as the researcher (Tran) may go alone or with another member of the research team depending on the research activities.

• Risk: There is a low level of COVID-19-related risks.
  • Strategy: We will follow the official COVID-safe plan currently followed by QUT and the advice from the Queensland Government. We will maintain social distancing, wear masks as required, and use hand sanitizer regularly.

It should be noted that if you do agree to participate you can withdraw from participation in the research project without comment or penalty.

Are there any benefits for me in taking part?

It is expected that this study will not benefit you directly. The outcomes of the research, however, may benefit researchers and designers as well as older adults and young children through better knowledge of intergenerational active play and improved play product designs. You can request a summary of the outcomes of the study by checking the relevant box on the consent form and providing an email address AND/OR phone number.

Will I be compensated for my time?

We will offer the participants refreshments during the workshop.

I am interested - what should I do next?

If you are interested in participating in this study,contact Koha Tran via email d26.tran@hdr.qut.edu.au or phone 0403 127 167, or contact Professor Alethea Blackler on +61 7 3138 7030.