Browsing by Author "Mikalauskas, Claire"

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    Technology Augmented Props: Tangible User Interfaces for Performer-Controlled Technical Elements in Improvised Theatre
    (2019-07-24) Mikalauskas, Claire; Oehlberg, Lora A.; Viczko, April; Sharlin, Ehud; Finn, Patrick
    While improvised theatre (improv) is often performed on a bare stage, improvisers sometimes incorporate physical props and technical elements to inspire new directions for a scene and to enrich their performance. For improvising technical elements such as light and sound, a control booth is used in a theatre space. However, coordinating with improvisers’ action on-stage is challenging as there is a disconnect between the technicians and the performers. My goal is to inform the design of a technology augmented prop that brings the capabilities of the control booth directly to the hands of the performers as a tangible user interface. I interviewed five professional improvisers about their use of physical props and technical elements in improv, and their expectations of performer-controlled technology. I propose a set of guidelines for the design of a technology augmented prop that is integrated into the existing world of improvised theatre.