Body-Actuating Play: Towards Understanding the Design of Play where Users Share Bodily Control with a Computer

This thesis explores "Body-Actuating Play" (BAP), a novel interaction where people share control of their movements with a computer. Using gentle muscle stimulation, BAP transforms the body into a controller and display for playful experiences. The research examines how this play affects self-awareness, relationships, and willingness to share control with technology. It presents a design framework for creating BAP experiences, opening possibilities for innovative games, healthcare applications, and artistic expressions integrating AI and emerging technologies with our bodies. This merging of physical and digital worlds enables active bodily participation, offering societal benefits like enhanced rehabilitation, improved social connections, and entertainment.