NOOBIE: the animal design playstation

Abstract

For a year and a half, I lead a group of researchers in building an alternative to the traditional computer terminal. Instead of building a design workstation complete with keyboard and mouse, we built an animal design playstation complete with fur, feathers, and an irridescent fish tail. We used the tools of puppetry, animation, and computer electronics, to build what is now called Noobie (short for "New Beast"). By sitting or standing in the lap of this computer creature, a child can build fantasy or real animals. When one squeezes a part on Noobie, the selected animal part can be seen on the screen in Noobie's stomach, and a sound can be heard.This paper documents the ideas behind the conception and creation of Noobie, along with how it fits into the short history of the Vivarium research group. This group is a collection of people, ideas, and projects that focus on creating a multi-media environment for children to learn about animal behavior.