What happens when toddlers become technologists?
PlayTech is a playful, exploratory project that dives into the world of interactive, sensory, audio technology in collaboration with babies and toddlers. The project is a process-led inquiry into how creative technologies can become meaningful tools for connection, curiosity, and co-creation in early childhood.
What we’re doing
Over this six-month project, the team of three artists will work alongside children, caregivers, and creative partners to:
- Tinker with tech: from sensors and motors to samplers and e-textiles
- Make, break, and fix: adopting a hands-on, trial-and-error “thinking through making” approach
- Co-design with children and caregivers: letting their interests, rhythms and relationships guide us
- Create sensory, responsive environments: interactive objects and playful systems built for discovery
During the project, the team will explore how very young children – often excluded from digital design processes – might fundamentally reshape our understanding of technology.
They’ll investigate how interactive technology can respond to the smallest gestures, what the dynamics of chance and control look like in co-created environments, and how principles of physical computing can be used to build more accessible and inclusive spaces for everyone involved.
Tools we’re playing with
During testing and experimenting, we explored a wide range of tools and platforms including: Dato DUO, Spokeboard, Playtronica, Teenage Engineering OP-Z, Bare Conductive, Koala Sampler, Oddball, Thumbjam, GoVJ, Ableton, Arduino, Lightbeam, Dadamachines, e-textiles, motors, projection, sensors, and more.
Buttons
Buttons is a collection of little sound worlds, a series of sonic topographies, each with its own flavour, movement and feeling. Created by Dr Charlotte Arculus and Nat Whitney for toddlers, babies, and adventurous adult ears as part of PlayTech.
In the PlayTech installation, soft blob-buttons are touched and these sound worlds are activated along with a visual motif.