WG 14.7 – Aesthetics and Empowerment

est. 2007

Aims

• To explore how aesthetics in art and design can play a role in different areas of entertainment computing.
• To research the broader spectrum of aesthetics – from abstract qualities of symmetry and form to ideas of creative expression and pleasure – in the context of entertainment computing.
• To understand the aesthetic parameters such as sensory experiences and their impacts on experiences such as satisfaction in entertainment computing.
• To study how context, interpretations, and cultural conventions interact with aesthetics in the applications of entertainment computing.
• To investigate artistic and designerly ways to trigger behavior change for healthier lifestyles, with solutions contributing to both physical and mental vitality and healthy living, relying on aesthetics of interaction principles and the use of data and connectivity as creative materials.

Scopes

Aesthetics and empowerment intersect in a transformative manner, highlighting the potential for aesthetic design interventions to contribute to individual or social empowerment. Aesthetics play a crucial role in providing individuals with a sense of autonomy and self-actualization to achieve one’s potential. The drive for autonomy and self-actualization is a key factor in the design of various technologies, both during the design process and in the design outcomes. Technologies facilitate users by empowering them to reach their full potential and take control of their lives in terms of behavior change, education, and health management. Aesthetics is empowering and allows individuals or communities to develop skills and capacities, which enable them to thrive and make meaningful contributions to their lives and society.