The team travelled to Bristol to showcase our latest Smart Cues prototypes in a live demonstration event. The goal was to introduce the project to a broader audience and gather informal feedback on how people perceive the technology.

During the event, we demonstrated a set of in-progress tangible prototypes designed to support “exercise snacking”, encouraging short bursts of physical activity that can be integrated into everyday home routines. Attendees were invited to experiment with a range of simple movements, including one-leg balance, marching steps, pose holding, squats, sit-to-stand, and an NFC-based movement game. These activities are intentionally brief and lightweight, illustrating how small moments of movement might fit naturally into daily life.

As always, Gravel the exercise dog played an important role in attracting attention. Many visitors were first drawn in by the playful interaction with Gravel before discovering the rest of the prototype system and learning more about the idea of exercise snacking.

Throughout the session we spoke with students, researchers, and members of the public about how they interpreted the technology and whether they could imagine devices like these fitting into their own homes. By the end of the day, the team returned with a collection of feedback and observations that will help guide the next stages of development of the Smart Cues project.

Notably, the demonstration was recognised with the Best Demo Award, highlighting both the strength of the concept and the engaging nature of the interactive experience.