Hangsters
Nadya Peek, David Pitman, Richard The · 2009
We propose a system for both the customisation and the physical representation of instant messaging contacts as hanging tangible avatars which have been outfitted with a personalized skin and set of interactions. Hangsters create an ambient display of a user's online contacts which is simultaneously peripheral and interactive. The user creates a representation of herself in an online avatar creator. The personalised skin is packaged around a standard modular electronic kit and mailed to the recipient. The Hangster then embodies the interactions that would otherwise take place onscreen: on/offline presence and accepting/initializing conversations. The system allows for a more ambient display of a user's contacts while introducing customisable modular electronic toolkits for the tangible avatars.