Research and writing
Skomer working on the beach
My research focuses on Multispecies Interaction Design, using technology to support the development of interfaces and experiences suitable for non-human sensibilities. Working with animals and species specialists, I investigate how playful tech can be used to support animal welfare and help humans discover more about the preferences and behaviours of other species.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4226-6889
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionafrench/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fiona-French
Portfolio
Camela and Valli with their giant elephant ball, 2023
I've spent a lot of time thinking about enrichment for managed elephants and been lucky to work with some lovely members of that community, housed in sanctuaries and zoos in the UK. Designing for elephants poses many interesting challenges, inspiring research into the various ways that non-human animals experience the world.
The toys4elephants blog gives an overview of all my Animal-Computer Interaction projects, including work that aims to enrich the lives of elephants, primates, parrots, dogs and humans. Please check it out here: https://blog.thinkmakeplay.co.uk/
Workshops and events
Noses from Sensory Jam, 2022
A zoo jam workshop is an opportunity for inter-disciplinary collaboration around the design of novel technology-supported enrichment and welfare for non-human animals. It's a fun networking and skills-sharing event that typically involves working in teams to discuss briefs provided by animal experts, develop and craft prototype solutions, and reflect on wider issues associated with the theme.
Themes have included hunting experiences, acoustic, cognitive and sensory enrichment, and concepts focused on welfare for farm animals, reptiles, apes and nocturnal species. Find out more about zoo jams outputs here: https://zoojam.org