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Conclusion + Next Steps

Despite all the limitations, Leap Motion technology is still very promising and interesting, and is definitely worth investing some time further experimenting it. The possibility to continue developing this project next semester through an Independent Study class is real and viable.

The next steps for this project include but are not limited to: · Implement Leap Motion controller to the game · Add sound control (mute button) · Finish bonus stage · Implement all random generated levels · Add game assets animation

#to be continued #conclusion #next steps

Final deliverables

#deliverables #game assets

Leap Motion Experimentation

Here are some interesting tutorials and frameworks that I’ve experimented during this project:

http://wilkesalex.github.io/leapstrap/javascript/

http://gamedevelopment.tutsplus.com/tutorials/add-motion-control-to-a-kiwijs-game-with-the-leap-motion-controller--cms-20455

http://www.kiwijs.org/documentation/tutorials/

#experimentation

Game Mechanics

The idea of having animals as characters running a Circus with math challenges was the chosen concept to be further developed. The main goal (challenge) of the game was also defined at this stage: to make one side equal to the other side of a simple math operation (sum or subtraction), with numbers ranging from 0 to 9.

#game design

Sketches

#sketches

This mood-board shows a collection of primary target audience’s favorite games and cartoons, not only providing ideas for visual style but also for UI design and color palette.

#visual reference #moodboard

Two mood-boards were created based on the interview responses in order to provide visual reference for aesthetic style, character and game assets design.

#visual reference #moodboard

Interview

The main purpose of this interview was to gather valuable information from the target audience, in this case, children. The list of questions was specifically designed to extract possible insights on four distinct topics: math, gestures, aesthetics style and game mechanics. Participants were picked from a range of 1st to 3rd grades in order to observe and compare how their tastes and preferences differ according to their education level.

List of Questions:

What’s your favorite TV cartoon?

What is your favorite iPad game? What makes it the best?

If you had the superpower to do whatever you want with a point of a finger, what would that be?

Do you like math? Why (not)?

When you think of math what first comes to your mind?

If math were an animal, what would it be?

Quick math challenge: 2 + 4 + 6 = _ + 6

Did you find that easy or hard to solve? (Give feedback and

teach them the correct answer in case they got it wrong.)

#interview #user-centered

Personas

Personas were created in order to represent each of the three major segments of the target audience (students, parents and teachers).

Andrew Lloyd

male, 7 years old, student (2nd grade)

Andrew has always been a curious boy. By age 5 he had already mastered (and taken control of) his mom’s iPad. His favorite games: Fruit Ninja and Temple Run 2. Andrew feels like there’s nothing he cannot learn or beat. In fact, he doesn’t even acknowledge it, he keeps trying until he does. At school he is starting to solve more complicated addition and subtraction problems but sometimes he gets bored because he would rather be playing on the iPad. Recently he started exploring more deepely the computer and surfing the web without his parents assistance.

Photo credit: reynermedia

Chester Clonne

male, 30 years old, photographer, married, first-time dad

Chester just had his first newborn a couple of months ago. Though this whole father thing is all new to him, he is still thrilled with the idea of teaching every little thing to Matt, his son, who he already picture going to Harward at age 15. His profession often allows him to work from his home-office, especially when he is photoshoping pictures or mouting wedding albums. He is a tech savvy guy and loves to play games in his spare time (or at least when he used to have one). He is very active in Instagram and is always posting pictures of Matt to show how proud he is with every step he takes.

Photo credit: Robert Nelson

Jessica Lin

female, 27 years old, 2nd grade teacher, single

Jessica is a very patient and cheerful person, who loves to deal with kids and feels fulfilled by teaching Math at a Primary School. She is always attending teacher’s conferences to be up to date with the latest education methods and innovations she can bring to “her kids” in class. Although she sometimes gets tangled with technology, she always try to introduce it to her students and often times feels amazed by how quickly they learn it. The kids loves her back and find her class to be the most fun because they don’t realize they are learning while they are playing.

Photo Credit: Texas A&M University-Commerce Marketing Communications Photography

#personas #target audience #research

Free kids educational computer games and activities

Another educational website, with a bigger focus on online games. Some games are well designed and will be helpful for benchmarking ideas that could be applied in this project.

#research #lit review #competitors

SWOT Analysis

The SWOT analysis was applied during the early stage of the project in order to verify its feasibility by identifying and clarifying possible obstacles and motivations right at the ideation phase.

#SWOT

Interesting tutorial-like article about developing for Leap Motion that will serve as a great point for my experimentation.

#research

Design Methodology

OUTLINE:

Research about correlate topics (i.e. gesture interactions, children learning and cognitive development)

Experimentation (with Leap Motion)

Interview primary school teachers, students and parents

Evaluate/validate visual concepts with children

Iterate from feedback

Development

Prototype evaluation

Refinements

Presentation

#methodology

This website provides valuable information about the American education system and, most specifically, about NY state’s common core curriculum. It will certainly serve a great purpose as a compass that will help guide my paths and decisions for this project.

#research

Math Chimp has free math games, videos, and worksheets. We create and collect the best math activities online and organize them by the Common Core Standards.

Interesting website with tons of math games for children!

#research #lit review #competitors

Research Outline

I thought it would be useful to start off by listing the key topics I’m going to research about, so I don’t get lost or miss any important content that I should have look into. They are displayed bellow in a unordered list:

Gesture-based interactions;

NY state common core curriculum;

Leap motion development documentation;

Educational games;

Designing for kids (age 5-7);

Competitors/similar apps already out there;

Psychology/HCI papers relating gestures and cognitive development;

#research

Click on the image to see the full timeline created to help me keep track of my progress, milestones and work.

#timeline

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