These new versions of the original ReacTickles have been developed to run on most browsers. They will run on tablets and phones, but as some of them are keyboard interactions, if they don't work, then check the description! Have fun!

In response to a lot of interest recently in the original ReacTickles, Joel and I have been working on re-creating them for the web, so they will run from your browser, rather than having to load and install a CD. In July I gave a talk for in London at the ESRC Shaping Autism … Continue Reading ››

The team at Egenis, Exeter University have been working with ReacTickles Magic and Somantics as part of their project, Exploring Diagnosis. Funded through the Wellcome Trust, the project team have been running animation workshops with adults on the autism spectrum and film production company Calling the Shots. Most exciting has been the interest … Continue Reading ››

We made some lovely new discoveries for Somantics when we participated in the Fun Palaces weekend, organised by artist Terry Chinn. Using a light sabre as an input device generated some gorgeous, distinctive patterns with Kaleidoscope, which contrasted with the more subdued mix of human … Continue Reading ››

We had great fun at the Inc summer workshop this week. Following a series of drama games that focused on movement based semiotics we set up the latest version of Somability in the large drama studio. We mainly used Flow, trying it out in each of the different display modes: Mirror, Skeleton, Silhouette … Continue Reading ››

This is our first CHI conference, and taking part in the Workshops has been a great introduction to a packed schedule of events. In small groups we presented Method Stories for Involving People with Impairments in Design, which opened up discussions revealing the lack of inclusivity in the way we publish and … Continue Reading ››

"Sound Clips is designed to augment story time with sounds! Travel to the darkest jungle or the deepest reaches of space at just the touch of a button! Sound clips creates the sound, you imagination does the rest!" Our latest application, Sound Clips has just launched in … Continue Reading ››

This one-day conference brought a diverse range of speakers and delegates together to share research, practical experiences and ideas for technological innovation. Jamie and Lion set the tone for understanding the impact of technology in day-to-day living - for communication, work and leisure. Our talk offered a journey through our experiences of developing software, … Continue Reading ››

Wendy has been in Melbourne, Australia during November, sharing both the Somatopia and Somability projects with Scope Victoria, and presenting at the prestigious 50th Anniversary ASID conference. Both events have led to connecting and sharing ideas with some fantastic people, especially … Continue Reading ››

Great to share insights and experiences of the "flow state" with Damian Milton at the first NAS design and autism conference. From the earliest days of designing ReacTickles we noticed how anxiety reduced and happiness increased when children were absorbed in their flow of interest, so it was fantastic to hear … Continue Reading ››

Here is a lovely video of the Accolade Awards. The judges were impressed with how the Somability approach to technology could offer new experiences with a traditional service, and cited the project as a "fine example of and co=producing and co-creating". Here are the judges comments.

Last Tuesday we completed the last of three workshops with young people from the Noah's Ark children's hospice as well as their siblings and parents. Once again we were hosted by the amazing team at artsdepot. As before, … Continue Reading ››

Here it is at last, the latest version of Somantics for iOS 8.3. Many thanks to Marek and James!

We are thrilled to announce that following interviews with the judges we reported on in a recent blog, Somability is one for three finalists in the "Better outcomes through working together" category of the 2015 Accolade Awards. Today the film crew interviewed staff … Continue Reading ››

We had a great time co-designing interactive artworks with young people from the Noah's Ark children's hospice at artsdepot. Using the fabulously accessible Touch Board from Bare Conductive. The participants collaborated in teams to bring their favourite things to life by adding … Continue Reading ››

First ever Cariad Interactive Somatopia Lab in Cardiff FabLab. Four teachers, two pupils and a technical demonstrator joined us for a rich mix of acting, moving, paper prototyping and storyboarding based on five Somatopia themes. Everyone set up their own Continue Reading ››

We are very excited to be able to work with Microsoft on porting our Somability project to the latest KinectV2 for Windows - more on that effort next week. James and I had a great time at the recent #KinectHackLondon event, where we saw some great projects created using a variety of software platforms.

Lots of people have been emailing us to say the camera feature on Somantics for iPad has stopped working. The problem is with the IoS 8 upgrade. At the moment Somantics is not available on IoS 8, although we are working on this. The desktop version … Continue Reading ››

We are all thrilled that Somability has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2015 Accolades. This week we met the judges, who had the opportunity to see Somability in action at the Gadlys Learning Curve Day Centre in Aberdare.

After many months of design and development with our friends at Rhondda Cynon Taf, Somability version one is now free for you to download. At this stage we are offering a Windows version which needs a Kinect camera.

To download the Somability … Continue Reading ››

Inspired by What the Body Does Not Remember, performed by Ultima Vez, we used some of the Raspberry Pi prototypes to try out themes of risk and relationships. The young dancers worked with Tamsin Griffiths and Cariad Interactive at the Sherman Theatre over three days to deliver a … Continue Reading ››

The our hard work in rehearsals and development paid off and everyone rose to the occasion. Each of the sequences - Call and response, Flow, Mirror and Space - enabled the performers to reach new levels of dynamic interaction. The Raspberry Pi delivered, thanks to James … Continue Reading ››

James has all the apps running well on the Raspberry Pi, so we were able to do a full rehearsal, linking the sequences together and making some of the moves more responsive and dynamic. Looking forward to the big night! Continue Reading ››

This week we took our workshop onto to the Pentland theatre stage. The performance is really starting to take shape and the prototypes for Somatopia and the Raspberry Pi are coming to life. One more workshop before the main event for … Continue Reading ››

Last Sunday we headed off to Arts Depot in Finchley for the first of our Clive workshops. We began our session with a percussive warm-up and revisited some of our favourite ReacTickles Magic Apps, Expand and Orbit. Everyone enjoyed seeing … Continue Reading ››

Beginning on 18th January, we are running workshops with Arts Depot. The workshops will be a pilot for developing our resources for Somatopia - and a test bed for inclusion by inviting adults with LDs to take part in weekly activities that culminate in them choreographing and presenting a … Continue Reading ››

A celebratory event was held on 11th November in the Wales Millennium Centre. The event constituted a brief introduction to the project, followed by a dance performance and “open mic”, where members of the audience could join in. The public stage was adapted … Continue Reading ››

On Friday we celebrated the end of a truly wonderful term of dance and improvised interaction with Somability. The True Colours Gadlys group, gracefully performed work in progress under the guidance of Zoe and Linzi. All the friends and family in … Continue Reading ››

Monday evening the Sherman Theatre opened its doors to friends and family for our end of term Showback. The Superhero narrative was written and performed by the members of the Inclusive Theatre group, expertly steered by Morgan, Jay and Cheryl. Somability provided the backdrop for the flying scenes, the super hero machine and the finale, … Continue Reading ››

Compelling Somability Dance performance from Rhonnda Cynon Taf Skills for Independence and Artis Community. True improvisation, demonstrating the joy of visceral engagement emerging through actions rather than plans. Kath's narrative put the experience into context as she described how the project has been transformative for service users, providing the key to new friendship and independence. … Continue Reading ››

Our presentation at DIWW, "Dancing with [co] Design", will focus on the potential of camera and projection technologies to extend the typical, sometimes limited, range of movements among people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) in their day service settings. We will describe our co-creation methods for Somability, and how we are … Continue Reading ››

Cariad Interactive presented work in progress at RE.WORK as part of London Technology Week. The question for participants was "how will emerging technologies and innovation impact the future of education?". Our presentation began with a quote from Fals Borda, (1995) "do not monopolise your knowledge nor impose arrogantly your … Continue Reading ››

The Sherman Theatre Creative Learning team invited us to stage some of the Somability and Somantics prototypes in the foyer to coincide with Easter holiday events for children and the Inclusive Theatre … Continue Reading ››

The Michael Sobell Centre, provided the venue for our first Somability sharing session, choreographed beautifully by dance coordinators from the Artis Community True Colours group, Zoe Martin and Linzi Robinson. When I arrived, the computer and Kinect … Continue Reading ››

Following a very successful paper prototyping workshop at the Gadlys Learning Curve last November, the Cariad Interactive team spent two days last week trying early technology prototypes. Learning Curve support staff, led by Kath Ritchie, together with Angharad … Continue Reading ››

Marek and I delivered a novel paper prototyping workshop together at the Arts Council of Wales Annual Conference. This technique, pioneered by Joel and Pete, challenged delegates  to design simple prototypes for a "creative future" smile detector application. There were 50 delegates, divided into … Continue Reading ››

We are thrilled to announce that our project, Somability, which is being hosted with Cardiff School of Art and Design and co-design partners, Rhondda Cynon Taf Skills for Independence with Artis Community, has been awarded funding through the Continue Reading ››

Thanks to the enthusiasm of Alex Jones, we set up Somantics on the iPad and desktop with a projector at the Danybryn Leonard Cheshire home.  Somantics Sparkles worked well with wheelchairs moving closer and further away, and even limited facial actions brought the interface to life. We created some very dynamic … Continue Reading ››

This ideation phase of Enfys has focused gaining vital inspiration for interaction design, to ensure that it is developmentally appropriate and usable in the playgroup setting. The first visits to the Cylch Meithrin Playgroups provided vital contextual information and enabled us to get to know the playgroup leaders and peer-to-peer dynamic. … Continue Reading ››

Hello world, we are working on the Cariad Interactive site as we speak. In the mean time, please check http://www.somantics.org for all the details of our latest projects.