TSU.MI.KI: Stimulating Children's Creativity and Imagination with Interactive Blocks

Young children often build various structures with wooden blocks; structures that are often used for pretend play, subtly improving children's creativity and imagination. Based on this traditional toy, we propose a novel interactive toy for children, maintaining the physical assets of wooden blocks and enhancing them with automation. We name our interactive toy "TSU.MI.KI." "TSU.MI.KI" consists of a set of computerized blocks equipped with several input/output devices. Children can tangibly interact with a virtual scenario by manipulating and constructing structures from the physical blocks, and by using input and output devices that are integrated into the blocks. TSU.MI.KI retains the successful physical qualities of its ancient predecessor and adds a distinct interactive layer that supports creativity by imitating a storyteller or a supportive caregiver.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: C5
• Authors: Yuichi Itoh, Shintaro Akinobu, Hiroyasu Ichida, Ryoichi Watanabe, Yoshifumi Kitamura, Fumio Kishino
• Keywords: Applied Computing, C5 2004, Interactive Toy, Physical Blocks, Wooden Blocks