Lab
Digital Media and Interaction - DigiMedia
Institution: University of Aveiro
Department: Department of Communication and Art
About the lab
Digital Media and Interaction - DigiMedia is an interdisciplinary research centre of the University of Aveiro focusing on innovation in the design of new interaction approaches for human-centred digital media applications.
DigiMedia joins 28 senior researchers from the fields of Communication Sciences and Technologies, Sociology, Philosophy and Computer Science, acting in transversal teams that develop fundamental and applied research in the fields of Cyberculture and Media Convergence, New Media and Digital Entertainment and Knowledge Media in Connected Communities.
DigiMedia joins 28 senior researchers from the fields of Communication Sciences and Technologies, Sociology, Philosophy and Computer Science, acting in transversal teams that develop fundamental and applied research in the fields of Cyberculture and Media Convergence, New Media and Digital Entertainment and Knowledge Media in Connected Communities.
Featured projects (1)
Journal of Digital Media & Interaction
https://proa.ua.pt/index.php/jdmi
** Scope **
The Journal of Digital Media & Interaction is an open access journal that addresses research on enhancing user experience in digital media applications in creative, cultural and social contexts. It focuses on the socio-technological challenges seen from a transdisciplinary perspective, grounded in media studies and interaction design, as well as in communication, human–computer interaction, cultural studies, design, psychology, sociology and information sciences. As an international peer-reviewed research journal, it provides an open forum for: the discussion and monitoring of trends and transformations in the digital media landscape; the presentation of new design models and emergent technologies for the innovation of the user experience; the presentation of results from empirical studies and innovative research approaches.
** Specific areas of interest include **
Active and Assisted Living
Audiovisual Communication
Creativity and Innovation
Critical Algorithm Studies
Cyberculture
Digital Accessibility and Usability
Digital Entertainment
Digital Learning Environments
Digital Literacy and Citizenship
Digital Games and Toys
eHealth and Wellbeing
Gerontechnology
Interactive Media and Arts
Interactive Television and New Media
Internet of Things
Knowledge Media Content
Machine Learning and Automation Studies
Media Convergence
Media Psychology and Engagement
Mobile Technologies
Narratives and Transmedia
Physical Computing
Screen-Time Studies
Smart Ecosystems and Identity
Social Media
Universal Inclusive Design
User Experience
Virtual, Mixed and Augmented Realities
** Guidelines for authors **
Papers can be submitted in English, Portuguese, French or Spanish.
https://proa.ua.pt/index.php/jdmi
Featured research (12)
FlavourGame is a hybrid board game, from the serious games category, which aims to promote among children, discussion and awareness for taking correct choices in their nutrition. As part of this project, the design of the characters that make up the game’s narrative is being developed. This process, which is still undergoing, so far involved, in a first stage, a small literature review on the process of Character Design, in order to identify the existence of some kind of transversal methodology to follow. In a second stage, the main psychological and emotional characteristics of the characters were determined, so that, in a third stage, the visual design of these characters was studied. Finally, and in a fourth stage, different components of the Design of the characters were evaluated with three samples of the target audience. Thus, this article presents the theoretical framework connected to character design, describes the so far undergone creative and design process of FlavourGame’s characters and presents three small stages of the characters’ design assessment with children between the ages of 10 to 12. Throughout the article, we also identify and describe the iterations and changes that were made to the character design according to both the opinions expressed by the children regarding their preferences and the collaboration of a graphic designer in the character design process.KeywordsCharacter designGraphic designConcept artTabletop gamesSerious games
Keynote for the 1er Congreso Internacional de DiGRA España 2021, delivered at Barcelona, in December 16, 2021.
There are no recipes or rules to develop games, any more than there are to develop stories. Our aim was to develop a serious game with the goal of promoting discussion and awareness among children around nutrition: FlavourGame. For this purpose, we needed not only to design game mechanics, but also to create a narrative that provided meaning to the game experience, in order to ensure substrate to the context of nutrition. In this paper, we present a framework that serves as a narrative design tool used in the development of this game and which can be employed in the creation of serious story-based games.
The history of European videogames has been so far overshadowed by the global impact of the Japanese and North American industries. However, European game development studios have played a major role in videogame history, and prominent videogames in popular culture, such as Grand Theft Auto , Tomb Raider and Alone in the Dark were made in Europe. This book proposes an exploration of European videogames, including both analyses of transnational aspects of European production and close readings of national specificities. It offers a kaleidoscope of European videogame culture, focusing on the analysis of European works and creators but also addressing contextual aspects and placing videogames within a wider sociocultural and philosophical ground. The aim of this collective work is to contribute to the creation of a, so far, almost non-existent yet necessary academic endeavour: a story of the works, authors, styles and cultures of the European videogame.
Even a cursory glance at scholarly literature from over a decade ago related to games can show authors variously prefacing their contributions with explanations of the newness of games, the impressive growth of the digital games industry, and the interdisciplinary nature of games [...]
Lab head
Department
- Department of Communication and Art
About Nelson Zagalo
- I've been researching the design of interactive experiences for the past 15 years, now I'm focused on engagement design within three dimensions: games, creativity and narrative.
