Casey O'Donnell [he/him] (@caseyod.bsky.social)

OASIS Talks: The Value of Toys in a Post-Digital World The Value of Toys in a Post-Digital World by Katriina Heljakka In a play world dominated by games and gameplay, one might wonder if toys are valued as playthings anymore. This talk explores toys, media, and machines from the perspective of object play, meaning play where the physicality, tangibility, and displayability of artifacts continue as meaningful aspects of human interaction with toys amidst and alongside the digitalization and Internet-connectedness of contemporary play. How do toys generate play value and promote long-term play as physical entities as we head toward a post-digital world? Dr. Katriina Heljakka is a researcher of toys, play, and playful learning at the University of Turku. She received her doctorate (in visual arts) at the Aalto University in 2013 and has since worked in the Academy of Finland-funded projects Ludification and the Emergence of Playful Culture, Hybrid Social Play (together with Business Finland), and most recently, the Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies. Her current research interests include speculative toy fiction, play machines, and playful learning in work and higher education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnQ_qSZBcL0