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Project Overview
The State Library of Queensland (SLQ) has 4 floors of space filled with unique artefacts, delicate historical works and other untold mysteries that the typical visitor never gets to see as most don’t get past the ground floor. Now what if these things could be made available for discovery through a game that relies on interacting with the environment through an iOS device? Free wi-fi 24/7 available anywhere on the premises ensures data flows freely and using Wordpress to hold content the app pulls content off the server which ensures ease of modifying
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Adelphi Digital - Reading Room Australia
Team
Art Direction: Michael Zrobok (Reading Room
App developer: Desmond Koh (Queensland University of Technology)
Project Brief
Mobile application built for Apple iOS specifically iPhone and iPod Touch to engage more 8-12 year olds with the library through an interactive app that includes:
• Single design and ‘character’ to guide you through the app
• Content objects triggered using QR codes that are scanned by the users phone
• Combined Quiz/Scavenger game – whereby users earn points for finding objects in the library and answer questions about an item that they have found, or have to find an item in response to a question
• Tracking of scores on games and activities for individuals – with unlocking of rewards for achieving points.
Project Innovation / Need
Our challenge was to understand how the IA and the real world user experience really meshed as well as how to establish which content had to be embedded and which could be pulled from the server where the challenge specific content would be stored.
User Experience
The library space is key to the optimised experience as the content available for discovery through this app relies on interacting with the environment through an iOS device interface. There is also offline embedded content which is included for those who can’t get to the facility. Sample content provides the same type of quizzes where audio, video or static image clues are used for quizzing participants. Successful responses allow the user to gain points which is paramount for those who fit the profile of an Achiever (collector) in gamer mindsets. Providing quizzes in order to progress within the experience allows gamers from the Mastermind (Solver) mindset to find value. Where the next level of value is found relates directly to the user’s interaction within the environment.
Contextual awareness by the device is the key to an engaging and exciting interactive experience:
• Hidden codes around the library provide QLD centric quiz based challenges to unlock various forms of content ranging from video, audio & image based archive items
• An audible sensor challenge entices users to stay silent until a shut off code can be scanned
• Augmented reality images are superimposed to show the view of the Brisbane review from a century back when the current view is right in front of user’s eyes
• The environment is the key to the engagement and the hidden collection on offer is the cherry on top
Project Marketing
The Secret SLQ app was marketed through a combination of in house, print media and web based advertising as well as competitions for children and school based promotions.
Here are some of the glowing comments the app gotten from users:
"Very helpful"
"What an imaginative approach for getting kids to 'see' the library in a new way, great for them to occupy and afternoon"
"Love this idea for the SLQ! The challenges are fun to complete too. If you are going to SLQ sometime soon, you should definitely try out this app."
"It makes your SLQ journey so interesting, even for an adult!"
Tags
Education
This category recognises education themed apps across all education sectors.
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