ITRA: International Toy Research Association

4^th ITRA World Congress, Alicante 6, 7, 8 July 2005
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The Conference Program can be found here.

Conference Theme

The central theme of the congress ‘Play, toys and innovation’ aimed to promote a multidisciplinary meeting in which the latest scientific results in innovation applied both to the design of playthings and their new uses, as well as to the study methods for their renovation and improvement, were discussed.

The theme of the congress was varied: innovation in the development, design and use of toys and games, innovative study methods, new teaching techniques, new ways of cooperation among researchers, industry and the users of playthings in different contexts – education, science, health/medicine etc. In this way, a broad approach to the play concept from complementary perspectives (biology, psychology, social sciences etc.) was proposed in order to convert the Congress into an excellent setting for multidisciplinary communication.

list of the topics likely to be included in the programme is given below:

The changing nature of play and toys.
Child use of toys and the mass media.
Globalization of child culture.
Adult play / Intergenerational play.
Uses and interpretation of multimedia games.
Innovative design, new designs.
New theoretical perspectives on play and toys.
Application of toys/play in health, education and science.
New study techniques for toys and play.
New entertainment technologies.
Innovative cooperation between science and industry.

Venue

The venue chosen for the event was the Hotel Porta Maris, situated in the harbour of the city of Alicante. Most of the papers and seminars were held in the Dársena conference rooms, on the ground floor of the Porta Maris Hotel. Official proceedings (opening and closing ceremonies) were held in the Auditorium of the Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo in Alicante.

The city of Alicante, venue for the event, offers a setting of exceptional beauty, where it was possible to enjoy a walk along the esplanade, cultural activities, monumental parks and gardens, shopping centres and a wonderful climate. The ‘Toy Valley’, made up of a group of towns in the mountains (Ibi, Onil, Biar, Tibi and Castalla) and situated about 30km from Alicante, is where the greatest number of toy companies in the country are concentrated and where the majority of toys in Spain are produced. The area is well-known for its toy industry and for its unbeatable natural surroundings. The AIJU headquarters are also to be found in Ibi, which enables toy designers develop research in constant contact with the sector. The anticipaton was that this setting offers those attending the congress a pleasant and profitable stay, with the possibility of combining intensive work with enjoyable moments of relaxation.