Video play: playful interactions in video conferencing for long-distance families with young children

Long-distance families are increasingly staying connected with free video conferencing tools. However research has highlighted a need for shared activities for long-distance family communication. While video technology is reportedly superior to audio-only tools for children under age 7, the tools themselves are not designed to accommodate children's or families' needs. This paper introduces four design explorations of shared play activities over video conferencing that support family togetherness between children and remote adult family members. We build on research in CSCW and child development to create opportunities for silliness and open-ended play between adults and young children. Our goal is to scaffold interaction across distance and generations.

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