9.3 Social Interfaces and Media Convergence

In the previous case studies, the design of three physical character interfaces were described. While they are each distinct products, several common themes cross all their designs. The first is the importance of personality for the interface. This is particularly true with characters from television programs. The intimate nature of television is such that children feel they are familiar with the characters they are viewing, even if they have never interacted with them physically but simply watched them on the screen. Simplyput, they know the character represented in the interface. They have expectations about character behavior, speech, and personal preferences that the interface character must meet in order to hold the user's attention and interest. The second theme in the design of the characters is the importance of understanding the children in the different age groups who are users of the products under discussion. Existing research data on children's social and cognitive competencies in the target user ages, as well as actual tests of child users with the interfaces themselves, were used to inform both the interface design and the role of language in it. Playing to children's strengths in social skills while avoiding the weaknesses in their cognitive and linguistic abilities (such as literacy and attention span) requires careful design and evaluation. When personality and user abilities are combined correctly the result is a successful social interface design for children.

In the freestanding play described for the above products, the child interacts directly...