The AnimalThe "hook" to get the children engaged in the content is a stuffed marine mammal that is as accurate as possible. Proposed mammals to start with are the sea otter, humpback whale, and sea lion due to their proximity to three of the largest urban areas on the California coast - San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
These animals will come with "accessories" related to their survival. The accessories, animal and game cards have QR codes that allow children to access content videos. KaiPals KitThe KaiPals kit contains:
For the purposes of conducting learner studies, I focused on the sea otter for developing content. |
Storyboard of Interaction
The Game
The focus of the child-animal interaction is an in-home scavenger hunt. Objects that the animal uses or needs for basic life functions, such as temperature regulation, eating and sleeping, are hidden by a friend or parent in areas of the house that the child uses for those same purposes. An app allows the child to perform all required functions for the game - scan QR codes, watch videos, take photos or videos and upload their creations to a website.
When the child finds an object, the QR code is scanned and they watch a video that shows a live animal in the wild using the object or behavior. Children may choose to upload a video, picture or blog entry to their personal KaiPals website that teaches their animal how they deal with the same issue. The parent or friend then gives the child a game clue to find the next object.
Using web-based videos allows the game to be changed periodically. Video content can be updated and the order of the objects found can be adjusted. The prototype of the app was created through AppFurnace, a platform that integrates QR codes and allows testing on various devices. See the game videos here.
When the child finds an object, the QR code is scanned and they watch a video that shows a live animal in the wild using the object or behavior. Children may choose to upload a video, picture or blog entry to their personal KaiPals website that teaches their animal how they deal with the same issue. The parent or friend then gives the child a game clue to find the next object.
Using web-based videos allows the game to be changed periodically. Video content can be updated and the order of the objects found can be adjusted. The prototype of the app was created through AppFurnace, a platform that integrates QR codes and allows testing on various devices. See the game videos here.
The Website
On the website, the child can register their animal. Once registered, any videos or photos the child takes through the app can be easily uploaded to their personal website page as an ongoing journal of their activities. For older children, the website also provides a portal for them to learn more about the animals, interact with experts or find out what they can do to help keep the ocean a healthy place for their animal to live.
Website mockup
Website mockup