1. Virtual reality for statistical literacy
A Eurostat app in the making Martin Karlberg, Eurostat unit B1 Team leader for Trusted Smart Statistics and Research
Working Group “European Statistical Data Support” Agenda item 14
28-29 March 2019

2. DIGICOM: A European Statistical System (ESS) Vision 2020 project
Why was DIGICOM launched?
Official statistics should make the most of new technologies to better serve users
A new information landscape
WG ESDS March 2019

3. DIGICOM: – 4 areas of activities – 18 National Statistical Institutes + Eurostat
User insight & social media
Visualisation
Open data
Literacy, branding
WG ESDS March 2019

4. DIGICOM: some results! ESS digital publication
User insight & social media
Visualisation
Shareable
infographics
User personas
Public use files
Open data
Literacy, branding
Games, e-learning material
Linked open statistics
WG ESDS March 2019

5. Games in DIGICOM work package 4
“In an age of fake news […], it is of ever increasing importance to provide students with the tools they need to critically engage with the information presented to them.” (A European effort to explore games and the gamification of official statistics; presented at CESS 2018)
Games (see the CESS 2018 paper!) developed by Eurostat and National Statistical Institutes in Slovenia, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Portugal, Poland and Italy.
Apps
Online games
Offline games
WG ESDS March 2019

6. The Eurostat app – genesis Objective: develop game (WP4)
Opportunity 1: Resources available for procurement
Challenge – how to design a game?
”Not just another quiz!”
Opportunity 2:
Virtual Reality (VR) technology is now mature
VR devices are affordable – and smartphones ubiquitous
The Publications Office of the European Union has a framework contract with mobile app developers
WG ESDS March 2019

7. The Eurostat app – game objectives
Target group: High school pupils & undergraduate students…
…who are are asked to give career advice to avatars.
WG ESDS March 2019

8. The Eurostat app – gameplay
By browsing European statistics (grabbed by the app from the Eurostat API), players search for:
countries with good employment opportunities (high employment rate, good purchasing power)
countries of interest to young couples (low salary gap, equal employment opportunities)
countries with environmental advantages (recycling, public transport, clean air)
WG ESDS March 2019

9. The Eurostat app – hardware requirements
Possible to played with Google Cardboard + compatible smartphone (iOS or Android)
High-end Android smartphones + Google Daydream or Samsung Gear
Dedicated hardware: Oculus Go! Smartphone needed to control settings, but gameplay with dedicated device.
(The fancier the hardware, the better the experience!)
WG ESDS March 2019

10. This is as far as it gets!
If you want to learn more about it – try it out! Nearly finalised – this is a beta version! (Some minor issues remain to be fixed)
Feedback for future versions: (after you’ve tried the app!) or at ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cros/VRgameFeedback
Questions? 
WG ESDS March 2019