The interior life of iPoi: Objects that entice witting transitions in performative behaviour

This article charts the development of the iPoi project which we introduced in a previous edition of this journal (see ‘New shapes on the dance floor: influencing ambient sound and vision with computationally augmented poi’, IJPDAM, April 2005, 1.1). The work further explores our investigations into playful encounters with exertion interfaces. We consider the notion of wittingness (Sheridan 2006) and how it may be used as a device for tempting performative interactions within the context of a playful arena (Bayliss 2004), such as a club, party or social event where behaviours, expectations and embodied dialogues are already fluid and dependent upon exchanges with others. We further expand upon our concept of the performance triad model where the modes of performer, observer and participant are intentionally blurred and in flux. Whilst this article analyses in depth one particular deployment of iPoi in a live performance setting, the wider brief of this research lies in readdressing humans’ relationships with technological objects by uncovering how one might use wittingness to stimulate performative behaviour and thus extend the capacity for creative expression through the affordance of these objects.