Appropriation, Affordance and Minecraft: What the methods people use to navigate Minecraft tell us about approaches to technology use
Tom Flint, Institute for Informatics and Digital Innovation, Edinburgh Napier University, UK
Thursday November 24th 2016
12 noon-2pm
Room 1.26 Paterson's Land, Holyrood Campus
sign up here: open to all (please bring lunch)
Appropriation is traditionally understood as employing an artefact in a manner beyond its original design or intended use. Use can be defined as exploiting affordances offered by technology meaning that appropriation will emerge as a natural consequence of exploiting affordances. This study of players of Minecraft examined players’ exploitation of the affordances offered by objects in Minecraft. What was revealed was an active community where the novel exploitation of affordances (appropriations) were communicated across social networks.
These appropriations are a consequence of not just seeing but seeing as aligned with action and motivation. Appropriation is revealed to be an actively engaged skill and a consequence of action with and upon the world.
About the speaker: Tom Flint is a lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University where he is programme leader of the BSc Interactive Media Design. Tom has recently graduated with a PhD titled “Appropriating Interaction.” Tom’s research revolves around Physical Computing and Digital Storytelling and the intersection of these areas. He has a history of building and exhibiting interactive artefacts.