Workshop on Productive Play
The goal of this workshop is to explore the intersection between work and play in networked play environments. What sorts of labor-like efforts do players make in online games and virtual worlds? What is it about play that motivates teamwork and productivity? And how can we leverage the successes of computer games and virtual worlds to create more successful distributed work environments? This workshop aims to explore emerging approaches to mixing work and play fruitfully—how incorporating play can make workers more effective and creative, and teams more cohesive.
The workshop will take place May 17-18, 2008, at the Beckman Center on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. All travel expenses will be covered. The format will include keynote conversations, group discussions and breakouts to share research findings, methodologies and visions for future research going forward. Selected participants will also invited to contribute to a follow-up publication.
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation.