Augmented Reality Environmental Q and A Game.

I’ve created a demo for a game that prompts users to answer questions about environmental issues, using Augmented Reality and utilising the functionality of Social media Analytics.

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Inspiration

I wanted to create an exclusive and interactive Augmented Reality experience for learners. Aiming to disrupt educational technologies, improve knowledge retention, and combat accessibility limitations. Recently I’ve created a demo for a game that prompts users to answer questions about environmental issues. Millennials and Gen Z have embraced using social media regularly, so instead of judging them for what they deem important, I’ve used Augmented reality technology to create games that integrate with Instagram and Facebook allowing users to post their answers and garner more attention to a topic that is often overlooked. I have a working demo and play testing what questions best fit the format before publishing it online. Once published it can be shared via weblink or can searched for in the instagram filter search bar. (Attached are an example of the data set’s the game collects using instagram and facebook’s built in analytics systems). Attached is a QR code that links to the game’s test link. The link can be printed and customised to specific logos or colours if needed and is a way to bridge the physical and digital worlds. As well as an example of how we can implement gamification into traditional print learning materials.

What it does

The Filter randomises a set amount of questions and then prompts the user to answer to the best of their abilities. If they don’t feel happy with their answer they can simply not post it to their accounts stories, or try again. It is a game that doesn’t keep score so the goal is to participate to the best of their ability. It’s a forgiving game design opposed to a punishing one.

How we built it

I have an arts degree, not a computer or engineering one. Everything I learnt about AR is from youtube tutorials, which I think is a testament of how using a visual patch layout opposed to scripting is easily accessible. The functionality of the patch is linking 1 function to the next: Find a face>Show the title>Press record>Delay randomising for x seconds>Randomise through the assets or x seconds>Stop. The whole time this occurs it is told to track the user's face (how to identify a face is a separate patch altogether). The graphic assets are in 2 categories: The Title and Slides (The musical numbers). Upon recognising the face the filter will show the Title, and upon pressing record the Slides will randomise then stop. It sounds simple and to do a degree if you're a visual learner, it is. But the back end of having working Augmented Reality and facial recognition is a little more complex.

Challenges we ran into

Trying to get people to embrace a technology that the aren't used to is a general problem I find myself trying to navigate around when introducing interactive AR as an educational tool.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

About 3 years ago I decided to learn game design, I taught myself C#, Unity, SparkAR, music editing, graphic design and started my own game design company. I published games on The Apple app store (where my one game made it to the number 1 spot in its category) as well as the Google Playstore. My Instagram filter profile currently has 29 million impressions, which is insane for a self-taught theatre major on a 2012 Macbook.

What we learned

That the lack of accessibility of educational resources, (be it Language, financial, social, geographic, disability restrictions) is a real issue that tends to be overlooked. Also, traditional educational resources seem to be unengaging or outdated. A lot of teaching methods and practices seem to add a blanket approach assuming all learners have the same learning experiences and access to materials. Which, living in a country with a massive classist and socio-economic divide, see the need to address that. Simply having digital resources opposed to books aren't a solution because computer access and internet access can be a factor, however smartphone penetration in South Africa is at an all time high at 93% with a push for private companies to provide wifi hotspots to impoverished areas. Source: ItWeb "SA’s smartphone penetration surpasses 90%": https://www.itweb.co.za/content/xA9PO7NZRad7o4J8A

What's next for Augmented Reality Environmental Q and A Game.

Currently I'm involved in the Global Young Innovators programme, where South African and UK developers partner up to solve global issues. Over the next couple weeks my UK counterpart and I will be coming up with solutions to help aid inaccessibility issues that come with traditional learning materials.

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