Encouraging witting participation and performance in digital live art

We describe a framework for characterizing people’s behavior with Digital Live Art. Our framework considers people’s wittingness, technical skill, and interpretive abilities in relation to the performance frame. Three key categories of behavior with respect to the performance frame are proposed: performing, participating, and spectating. We exemplify the use of our framework by characterizing people’s interaction with a DLA iPoi. This DLA is based on the ancient Maori art form of poi and employs a wireless, peer-to-peer exertion interface. The design goal of iPoi is to draw people into the performance frame and support transitions from audience to participant and on to performer. We reflect on iPoi in a public performance and outline its key design features.