AnimMagix Interaction Design with Projections for Updated Prototype

This document expands on TR98-13, adding details consistent with operation of an initial prototype for AnimMagix and including projections for further development. AnimMagix is part of the Magix series of playful learning environments. In AnimMagix, children create whimsical creatures with anthropomorphic behaviors and launch them onto a field in which the creatures interact and affect one anothers’ behaviors. The creatures become like a dancers on an ice rink. Their movements and intentions seem to change as they glide from one partner to the next. Children can explore these emerging effects by selecting and saving creatures for further study. AnimMagix maintains the constructivedialogic style of interaction as well as many functions introduced in PatternMagix (see MERL TR97-24).