How Space and Tool Availability Affect User Experience and Creativity in Interactive Surfaces?

As computing increasingly deals with our complex daily experiences, designers are challenged with new methods and ways of implementing complex interactions in limited user space and tools, but without hindering user experience and creativity. In this paper, we present the results of an empirical investigation regarding the effect of space and tool availability on user experience and creativity. The goal is to understand whether and how space and tool availability allow users to be more creative and improve their overall experience. To do so, we developed a connect-the-dots drawing multi-user application with a focus on having certain restrictions in size and specific tool availability. Based on this application, we conducted an empirical study with 38 users. For the evaluation, surveys, photos and observations were recorded and used in our analysis. The results showed that: (a) tool availability does not affect user creativity and experience and (b) space availability affects user creativity, collaboration and hedonic motivation (pleasure). Although our results are early, provide insights that tools' limitation does not hinder users' ability to be creative; and space availability is of great importance in creative activities.