Projects 2014 > Light Bug > Journal
Fri 14 Nov, 2014
As well as the interactive playground we found two types of swings. The first was on a patch of common ground, a roughly triangular area of grass formed by the right angle of a large busy crossroads and bounded by a footpath and cycle path cutting across the corner diagonally. It was one of those large swings in which the circular seat is a thick hoop strung with netting; the swinger can sit, stand or lie down. Two children can play in it easily. No children were around and given its location it was hard to imagine it would be played on very often. It didn't seem an obvious place to stop and play, especially as the large park we were heading to was only 5 minutes walk away. Of course we had a go anyway.
The other swings were in a restaurant, a branch of Sticks n Sushi. Tine has visited the one in Covent Garden, and the Copenhagen one turned out to be just round the corner from our hotel. On the twelfth floor of a hotel, it had a low-lit room with curtain glass windows from ceiling to floor, with a view over the river and city at night. Three rows of swing seats faced the window. Each had a comfortable padded leatherette seat and was attached to the high ceiling by four long ropes. Some of the swings had double seats, occupied by smooching couples or pairs of friends.
Whilst waiting for our table, we set about play testing the swings. Sadly, each swing's proximity to the swings in front and behind it (we were in the middle row) limited the scope for energetic swinging. We did our best to swing as far as possible without causing damage or offence. Other swing occupants (swingers!?) were less obviously playful, preferring to move slowly and minimally as they talked, reminding us that the arc and energy of swing play can be minimal and relaxed. This distracted, incidental and soothing motion can be detected by PlayAlive's satellites but can (or should) it be incorporated into our gameplay?
Posted by Seth Giddings
