Handheld Gaming (Watching the Detectives) Walter Holland, Zachary Nataf, Kevin Johnson, Robin Hauck, & Kurt Squire

The Big Idea Handhelds are cheap, powerful, easy to use, and easy to store What to do with them? Lend themselves to gaming and interactive narrative Lack of demonstrated gaming models (US)

Handhelds the Smaller Idea Computational Power Multimedia Machines Portability Social interactivity Context sensitivity Connectivity Individuality

This Project Establish a vision for the design and delivery of handheld games Suggest multiple models of gameplay Spec out the design needs for a platform

Environmental Detectives Imagine a classroom of students around Boston collecting data about an unfolding environmental disaster and cover-up in real time. Students collect data by going to sensors that transmit information via docking stations or GPS. At different locations, players learn about sick families or the consequences of toxins on the environment.

Game Flow Player works at Health Department & gets message from a worried mother Mercury point-source pollution Players gather data, evolving in real time Players compile data, build model, identify suspects Contests in time, masking, cover-ups

Pollution candidates Perchloroethylene (PERC) from dry cleaners Mercury Fertilizer / Pesticide run-offs Sulfur Dioxides Ground Level Ozone (VOCs NO x )

Rationale Probeware has been successful, but does not leverage computational power of handhelds. Modeling is a Cornerstone of Atmospheric Science Combine the dramatic potential of Eric Brokovich with the Case Study: Mexico City

Sim Cambridge

Location-Based Stories

The Platform Map-based systems The map displays your location –GPS –Bluetooth –DataPort Location on map can trigger multimedia Underlying simulation can determine what media is played

The Platform Timed Information triggers (also could be tied to simulation) Context-sensitive text display (i.e. I know that you were at the old mill). Accessing & writing central database Ad hoc sharing communication Visualization of movement Location-based advertising

Conceptual Framework: Augmented Reality Games The handheld is the window into a simulated world Pedagogical & creative possibilities of virtual space Using real-world as contested spaces Using interactions as elements of gameplay Link with multi media & authorship

Next Steps Center for Environmental Health Sciences at MIT –Outreach Education Programs Center for Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences ( –Content and ties to courses