research-article

Mainstream robotic toys and children with physical impairment: what about playfulness?

Authors:

Serenella Besio,

Andrea Bonarini,

Fabio Veronese,

Daniela BulgarelliAuthors Info & Claims

DSAI '16: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion

Pages 208 - 215

https://doi.org/10.1145/3019943.3019974

Published: 01 December 2016 Publication History

Abstract

Although play is recognized as the main drive for the child's physical, cognitive and social development, it is first of all a unique source of pleasure, fun and recreation. Playfulness, the individual intrinsic involvement in play has been described as a measurable characteristic of these aspects of play.

Play and playfulness can be limited in children with physical impairment (PI) and robotic toys might offer good options and opportunities for playing. Five robotic toys of the mainstream market were proposed to seven children with PI to verify their playfulness and their usability. Playfulness was coded according to the Test of Playfulness (Bundy & Skard, 1997).

Results show that all the robots were playful and interesting to the children; however, the role of the adult expert play companion proved crucial both as assistive agent and as a scaffolding partner, to assure a high level of playfulness to the play activity.

A first discussion proposal of the results on the basis of the playfulness construct and of their constituent elements is presented, with the aim of laying the foundations for new reflections and deepening studies in the field of play and children with disabilities.

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Cited By

Kaelin VValizadeh MSalgado ZParde NKhetani M(2021)Artificial Intelligence in Rehabilitation Targeting the Participation of Children and Youth With Disabilities: Scoping ReviewJournal of Medical Internet Research10.2196/2574523:11(e25745)Online publication date: 4-Nov-2021
https://doi.org/10.2196/25745
Veronese FBulgarelli DBesio SBianquin NBonarini A(2016)Off-the-shelf, robotic toys and physically impaired childrenProceedings of the 7th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion10.1145/3019943.3019977(232-239)Online publication date: 1-Dec-2016
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3019943.3019977

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DSAI '16: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion

December 2016

440 pages

ISBN:9781450347488

DOI:10.1145/3019943

Copyright © 2016 ACM.

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Published: 01 December 2016

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DSAI 2016

DSAI 2016: 7th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion

December 1 - 3, 2016

Vila Real, Portugal

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Cited By

Kaelin VValizadeh MSalgado ZParde NKhetani M(2021)Artificial Intelligence in Rehabilitation Targeting the Participation of Children and Youth With Disabilities: Scoping ReviewJournal of Medical Internet Research10.2196/2574523:11(e25745)Online publication date: 4-Nov-2021
https://doi.org/10.2196/25745
Veronese FBulgarelli DBesio SBianquin NBonarini A(2016)Off-the-shelf, robotic toys and physically impaired childrenProceedings of the 7th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion10.1145/3019943.3019977(232-239)Online publication date: 1-Dec-2016
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3019943.3019977

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