Northwest Playground Equipment: February CEU Presentation Future of Play: Technology Integration

Thursday, February 16th at 1 pm PST

We are excited to spotlight our exclusive manufacturing partner Yalp and our presenter, David Flannigan. The name Yalp is Play in reverse. Yalp develops and distributes state-of-the-art, innovative playsets, and sports equipment. We combine gaming with playing outside, combining the best of both worlds. Our mission; is to realize inspiring and challenging areas that invite everyone to get active and have fun.

Topic:  Explore Inclusive Playgrounds

Course Credits:  CEUs for a total of 1.0 Professional Development Hours 1.0 LA CES HSW PDH

Course Description:  We all know that kids spend countless hours in front of a screen, not only for gaming and social media but also for school work. What will the future be like for kids if they are addicted to their screens and don't want to go outside and play? What will draw them outside to play and have fun without being tethered to a device? Do we take away all technology from kids and force them to be outside? We all know that is not a solution.

There is a growing trend to integrate technology into play and placemaking efforts across the world. This is certainly promising when seeking a solution to get kids and families outside playing while experiencing the interactive thrill of the digital world. As technology continues to advance across the globe, there is a growing trend for cities to become SMART cities. This includes having wifi hotspots and technology integration in public spaces, including parks. Recently, the Luskin Center at UCLA published SMART Parks: A toolkit. This toolkit is aimed at "park managers, designers, advocates, and anyone who wishes to learn how technology can be incorporated into parks." While there may be questions and reservations about integrating technology into public spaces, there is no doubt this trend will continue to grow.

While we can't fully predict the future, we know that play will continue to be a fundamental part of child development. In fact, play is something we all need regardless of our age. That is why it is imperative that we look at how technology can be used to encourage kids to get outside, play longer, and come back out again.

Learning objectives

• Participants will be able to understand the limitations of play
• Participants will be able to evaluate trends in technology integration into play environments, including SMART cities.
• Participants will be able to analyze the key design principles for interactive playground equipment and access

Register now

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local rep. Thank you for supporting Northwest Playgrounds Equipments CEU initiative in 2023, our goal of Building Community Through Play and Design. We plan to hold this CEU event throughout the year on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1 PST.

We look forward to seeing you next week; if not, our next CEU presentation will be on Thursday, March 16th, when we will be featuring WholeTrees.