DanceBits 'It tells you to see us': Supporting Dance Practices with an Educational Computing Kit

Kayla DesPortes, Kathleen McDermott, Yoav Bergner, Francisco Enrique Vicente Castro, Sauda Musharrat, Aakruti Lunia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Wearable electronics expand the ways learners can create with computing as they gain proficiency with programming and electronics. Dance is one domain where wearables can support creative, embodied practices in computing education. However, wearable electronics need to be small, durable, and easily integrated into clothing to meet the constraints of dance contexts. These features are challenging to achieve, especially when working with novices. We present DanceBits, a wearable prototyping kit for dance that was co-developed with a justice-oriented, computing and dance education organization. DanceBits’ plug-and-play system uses small PCBs with solderless connectors to support dancers in rapidly designing, building, and performing with electronic costumes. Our user studies exploring the system with dance instructors and youth participants show that DanceBits enabled fast development of wearables, offered users a breadth of expressivity through computational and choreographic choices, and empowered dancers to see wearables as a tool for developing their movement practices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationTEI 2024 - Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
ISBN (Electronic)9798400704024
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 11 2024
Event18th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction, TEI 2024 - Cork, Ireland
Duration: Feb 11 2024Feb 14 2024

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Conference

Conference18th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction, TEI 2024
Country/TerritoryIreland
CityCork
Period2/11/242/14/24

Keywords

  • Creative Computing
  • Dance Education
  • Physical Computing Education
  • Wearables

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Software

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'DanceBits 'It tells you to see us': Supporting Dance Practices with an Educational Computing Kit'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this