Interaction and Participation in Radio Plays: A Novel Approach to an Old Medium

Abstract

Abstract. Radio plays have recently regained both popular interest and commercial success. Yet, listeners are not provided with either feedback channels or the ability to actively participate in this medium. The TAPE-Player concept described in the present paper extends the radio play medium by adding interactivity as well as participation to the production process. The user takes the roles of both actor and director, which includes verbal interpretation, recording, and editing the dialogues for the selected role(s) as the play's script evolves. The creative freedom is supported by TAPE-Player's underlying hypermedia architecture: audio clips are managed separately and combined dynamically to produce a personalised radio play. The applicability of the concept was corroborated in an empirical study. Specifically, the users welcomed the interaction via TAPE-Player's easy-to-use interface, the creative freedom, and the substantial influence they had in producing radio plays in a personalised entertainment medium.