Engineering Modular Playware

In this paper, we describe the engineering of modular playware. Constructing playware systems out of individual modules allows the system to be easily transported to be used anywhere, to easily build different bodies and brains, and to allow people to construct and combine the modules in a creative fashion. Thus the modularity helps fulfilling the Playware ABC. We exemplify the engineering challenges of the hardware, software and communication design of modules through the development of handheld modules for playful rehabilitation. The handheld modules allow for a fun and motivational training of upper extremities, and can be viewed as an extension to the Moto Tiles for lower extremity training, which have proved to be a highly successful playware for prevention and rehabilitation among seniors. The paper outlines the engineering challenges and proposed solutions to make such modular playware for playful upper extremity training.