Presentation for the 2009 Museums and the Web Conference in Indianapolis about the ARCHIE and iDiscover projects (EFRD projects), conducted by the Expertise Centre for Digital Media (Hasselt University) and the Gallo-Roman Museum (Province of Limburg).

1. The Design of Context-Specific
Educational Mobile Games
Jolien Schroyen & Kris Gabriëls
April 17, M&W 2009

2. Research projects : overview
- EFRD projects:
- ARCHIE (May 2005 – August 2008)
- RITCHIE (September 2008 – August 2010)
- partners :
- Expertise Centre for Digital Media (Hasselt
University)
- Gallo-Roman Museum (Province of Limburg)

3. Research projects : overview
- ARCHIE: enhance vistor experience through
mobile ICT
- RITCHIE: expertise centre and demolab
iDiscover for (mobile) ICT in culture and heritage
- interdisciplinary team
-increased attention for communication and
dissemination of know-how

4. Museums and ICT : basic principles
- ICT in the service of the visitor experience
- Focus on:
- site/environment
- visitors: target groups
- content/messages/collection
- interplay between these elements

5. Museums and ICT : basic principles
A mobile guide which …
- stimulates interaction between people
- encourages interaction with the museum
- tailors the presentation to the visitors’ needs

6. Museums and ICT : basic principles
A mobile guide which …
- stimulates interaction between people
- encourages interaction with the museum
- tailors the presentation to the visitors’ needs

7. Museums and ICT : basic principles
A mobile guide which …
- stimulates interaction between people
- encourages interaction with the museum
- tailors the presentation to the visitors’ needs

8. Museums and ICT : 4 dimensions
- overall framework to situate mobile ICT
applications with respect to 4 dimensions

9. Museums and ICT : 4 dimensions
- overall framework to situate mobile ICT
applications with respect to 4 dimensions

10. Museums and ICT : 4 dimensions
- overall framework to situate mobile ICT
applications with respect to 4 dimensions

11. Museums and ICT : 4 dimensions
Personalization
http://vimeo.com/4059566

12. Museums and ICT : 4 dimensions
Social Interaction
http://vimeo.com/4059579

13. Museums and ICT : 4 dimensions
Interaction with the
environment
http://vimeo.com/4059557

14. Animation with the support of …
de Koning
Boudewijnstichting

15. Software Framework

16. Personalization
• presentation
• content adaptation

17. Localization
• Localization technologies
– GPS, WiFi, Infrared, RFID, …
• Granularity

18. Communication
Groups of interconnected mobile guides
• Voice-over-IP
• Game related data
synchronisation!

19. User Centered Design
Take into account
• specific site and content
• user target group
Museum game for youngsters
Involve the users in the different stages of the
design process.

20. User Centered Design
Target group survey of children aged 12 – 14
years old
– Strong need for do (hands-on) activities
– Strongly experience-driven learning style
– Museum as amusement park
– Interests: multimedia, games
– Like to ‘explore’
– Group together / competition

21. User Centered Design
Demo- and testlab

22. Workshop
• Activity
– define your target group
– translate a museum story into a game concept
– situate concept with respect to 4 dimensions
• Timing:
– 15 minutes brainstorm in groups
– 10 minutes feedback

23. Our approach : the ARCHIE case
- Create game concepts that act as good learning
environments

24. Our approach : the ARCHIE case
- Create game concepts that act as good learning
environments

25. Our approach : the ARCHIE case
- Enhance the commitment of the players :
identification via personalized avatars

26. Our approach : the ARCHIE case
- Value the graphical design : tailor design to
target group and museum story (content)

27. Our approach : the ARCHIE case
- Design for social interaction

28. contact
-Hasselt University - EDM : Jolien Schroyen
jolien.schroyen@uhasselt.be
Kris Gabriëls
kris.gabriels@uhasselt.be