From the Playable City Award to the forthcoming REACT Play Sandbox, Play is becoming a powerful theme here in the Pervasive Media Studio. We have asked Seth Giddings, part of UWE's Digital Cultures Research Centre based in the Studio to share some thoughts and insights from his work exploring play and childhood in contemporary culture.

We will get a sneaky preview of Seth's upcoming book Gameworlds - Virtual Media and Children's Everyday Play, in which he asks what is the nature of children’s play today in an environment saturated with digital media devices and networks? In what ways are long-established games and play patterns erased, sustained or transformed by computer-based media? How might the virtual worlds and characters of the videogame suggest new ways of thinking about earlier or longer-established patterns of play, for example imaginary, literary and collective gameworlds with toys, books, and outdoor spaces? This talk will explore the passage of children’s play and games into the digital age. It will argue that children’s play and media cultures must be rethought from the perspective of virtual media.

This Lunchtime Talk is part of Open Studio Friday, which takes place at the Studio every week.

Do you want to find out what is going on at the Pervasive Media Studio? Are you interested in meeting our residents, talking about a specific project or curious about pervasive media? Why not pack a sandwich and join us for one of our Lunchtime Talks and Open Studio Friday.

Lunchtime Talks are informal presentations by Studio residents and associates. They normally take place at 1pm on Friday, are free and open to everybody who’s interested in what we do.

After the Talk, we also invite you to stay with us for the afternoon to continue the conversation or work on your own projects. We provide chairs, tables, wireless and a great space. You bring what you need to work with (laptop/mobile). Our open afternoons close at 5pm.

Let us know if you’d like a tour of the space and we'll be happy to show you around. Send an email to admin@pmstudio.co.uk