7. How I Met My Neighbour Planning for Spontaneous Playful Interactions Through Public Screens

One of play’s most indisputable features is the role it takes in connecting people and facilitating group identity. This chapter contributes to the growing field of urban play in further understanding the relations between urban settings, play opportunities and possible benefits for social interactions in the city. The research introduces an intervention of a technological urban game called ‘Evenyaru’. ‘Evenyaru’ packs the nostalgic game of ‘Rock-Paper-Scissors’ in a contemporary format by using two small public screens to connect nearby benches and inviting strangers to play against each other through a wireless network. ‘Evenyaru’ was placed in two urban locations to compare the categories of design that define the interaction between strangers through a playful situation. By creating a virtual ‘third place’ in a public setting, the study examines the delicate balance between anonymity and connection during urban play through public screens and the relations between urban planning and play elements that thrive on spontaneity. The research found a strong correlation between the attention the intervention received and the type of location. Passersby were more likely to notice the game in the static location than in the dynamic location. In addition, communication between players was more verbal in the static location than in the dynamic location. These findings are understood in light of the organization of objects in public space.