Social Mobile Interaction using Tangible User Interfaces and Mobile Phones

This ‘work in progress’ paper presents an investigation of mobile input devices and interaction techniques on their effects on social engagement for children when interacting with virtual characters. We call interactions social mobile interactions if they increase social involvements. Social mobile interactions are collaborative interactions to create social experiences between children in a group as well as social engagement with the virtual characters. We describe our first findings of adequate input devices and interaction techniques which might support social and emotional learning for children. The tangible user interface (TUI) called Display Cube and a mobile phone interaction technique called touching are discussed on their efficiency creating social interactions and engagement. Finally, we describe our future work including planned user tests.