Giocare per innovare: sfide e opportunità, del designer, nel nuovo contesto tecnologico globale

In the context of a world increasingly permeated by artificial intelligence, arises the crucial question about the future of the "human" designer. The research aims to discover whether human creativity and artificial creativity are comparable and if the distinctive difference between humans and machines actually lies in this capacity. Through in-depth investigation, it emerges that emotional empathy and playful impulse are distinctive and unique characteristics of the human being. Therefore, the goal is set to enhance emotional empathy through play, with a particular focus on childhood. The research focuses on the development of empathy in children between the ages of five and seven, as this crucial phase of growth offers fertile ground for positive intervention. Various methodologies and strategies are explored to achieve this goal, culminating in the creation of a toy called Agitama. Agitama is a virtual pet designed to offer multisensory experiences inspired by pet therapy and prosocial play, without the use of digital screens. Through positive interactions with Agitama, children can develop and enhance emotional empathy, learning to understand and respond to the emotional needs of others. This study underscores the importance of integrating empathy and play into children's education and suggests that innovation in design can be a catalyst for promoting essential human qualities in an increasingly technological world. Agitama represents a tangible example of how design can contribute to fostering meaningful human connections and nurturing empathy from the early stages of child development. The research focuses on the development of empathy in children aged 5 to 7, as this crucial phase of growth offers fertile ground for positive intervention. Various methodologies and strategies are explored to achieve this goal, culminating in the creation of an innovative toy called Agitama. Agitama is a virtual pet designed to provide multisensory experiences, inspired by pet therapy and prosocial play, without resorting to digital screens. Through positive interactions with Agitama, children can develop and enhance affective empathy, learning to understand and respond to the emotional needs of others. This study underscores the importance of integrating empathy and play in children's education and suggests that innovation in design can be a catalyst for promoting essential human qualities in an increasingly technological world. Agitama represents a tangible example of how design can contribute to cultivating meaningful human connections and nurturing empathy from the earliest stages of child development.

Nel contesto di un mondo sempre più permeato dall’intelligenza artificiale, sorge il quesito cruciale sul futuro del designer "umano". La ricerca si propone di scoprire se la creatività umana e quella artificiale siano comparabili e se la differenza distintiva tra uomo e macchina, risieda effettivamente, in questa capacità. Attraverso un’indagine approfondita, emerge come, l’empatia affettiva e l’impulso ludico, siano caratteristiche distintive e uniche dell’essere umano. Pertanto, si stabilisce l’obiettivo di potenziare l’empatia affettiva attraverso il gioco, con un focus particolare sull’età infantile. La ricerca si concentra sullo sviluppo dell’empatia nei bambini tra i cinque e i sette anni, poiché questa fase cruciale della crescita offre un terreno fertile per intervenire positivamente. Vengono esplorate diverse metodologie e strategie per raggiungere questo obiettivo, culminando nella creazione di un giocattolo chiamato Agitama. Agitama è un virtual pet progettato per offrire esperienze multisensoriali, ispirate alla pet therapy e al gioco prosociale, senza ricorso di schermi digitali. Attraverso interazioni positive con Agitama, i bambini possono sviluppare e potenziare l’empatia affettiva, imparando a comprendere e rispondere ai bisogni emotivi degli altri. Questo studio sottolinea l’importanza di integrare l’empatia e il gioco nell’educazione dei bambini e suggerisce che, l’innovazione nel design, può essere un catalizzatore per promuovere qualità umane essenziali in un mondo sempre più tecnologico. Agitama rappresenta un esempio tangibile di come il design possa contribuire a coltivare connessioni umane significative e a nutrire l’empatia fin dalle prime fasi dello sviluppo infantile.