Digital display-based public games are becoming more commonplace, appearing in places such as music festivals and shopping malls. These displays are attempting to introduce play into a non-play space via technology. We are wondering what happens when you add technology to an existing game space, such as a public basketball court? Can you make pick-up games more rewarding for those who already play in public through interactive technology? Could such a display drive more engaging spectator experiences?

The “Half Court Show” project introduces a score counter which tracks the total number of baskets scored each day on a public, outdoor, half court basketball court. The Half Court Show project allows us to explore how technological augmentation of an existing play space affects how people use the court and how they feel about playing, watching and inhabiting the space around it.

Half Court Show by Alan Chatham, Wouter Walmink and Florian ‘Floyd’ Mueller.