AI and Transmedial Play for Public Empowerment.
2024.
Alex Taylor
This master’s thesis from the Product Design course at OsloMet investigates the feasibility of playful and interactive media for public empowerment. In regards to RELINK, it aims to look at how this form of media can be utilized to empower people’s knowledge on smart devices, vulnerabilities, and security prevention techniques. The thesis uses an experimental, practice-based game design research approach, and implements a ‘critical play’ framework to prototype iteratively. This led to the development of a public experience where players can interact with a physical communications board, and talk with digital AI characters representing various personified smart devices.
Findings
Through the use of iterative prototyping, the thesis found that the use of narrative techniques can be effectively mixed with digital tools to empower people meaningfully. The use of AI repeatedly allowed for emergent and unpredictable outcomes toward the empowerment of awareness of smart home security. The act of interacting between a digital and physical medium in a public space helped players engage more deeply and meaningfully. Additionally, the study found that utilising critical game design techniques throughout the research helped to address bias, promote reactive and proactive observation, and allow space for change.
Recommendations
The project highlights the need for educational technologies that can be engaging and adaptable in more diverse, public environments. It recognises that there should be more development on AI tools for empowerment, that can generate but also adapt. The thesis proposes that this research game be used as a springboard for further analysis and research, or for the basis in the development of a commercial product. The thesis also proposes a novel, iterative methodology of game design-research called the ‘subversive play’ model, which is an expansion of Mary Flannigan’s ‘Critical Play’ model.
Take a look at the full project here!