Training body awareness and control with technology probes: A portfolio of co-creative uses to support children with motor challenges

Abstract

Technology probes have been used in co-creative embodied design processes to spur creativity and generate design ideas. We present a range of Training Technology Probes (TTPs), designed to facilitate collocated physical and social training. We deployed them in the context of a physical training course for children with motor challenges, where they were tested and iterated onsite through our participants' (instructors' and children's) creative uses. We report on intended/expected uses as well as improvised ones resulting from creative appropriations that were found useful in our physical activity. We discuss key core properties of the TTPs that supported productive creative appropriation. This work adds to others on technology probes by emphasizing their generative value in goal-oriented somatic explorations and practices, like our training course.