High-Level Project Summary
We developed a game with an interactive console displaying the status of the crew going on a research mission to colonize Mars. Throughout the whole journey, the player monitors the crew and helps them face the challenges of space travel through the panel.We did extensive research to understand every possible risk of space travel and set challenges and tasks in layman terms so that children can learn about space even when playing a game.Our solution is important as understanding techincal space jargon is inaccessible and way beyond the scope for kids who are interested to know more about space. Early introduction to space environment will propel kids towards a STEM career.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
Our game is an interactive panel that displays the status of the crew going on a research mission to colonize Mars. Throughout the entire journey, the player can monitor the crew and their health status. We created scenarios concerning the hazards of space travel and players can take actions to ensure the health and safety of the crew.
All information pertaining to the safety of the crew and the challenges of space travel are introduced by means of tasks that are easy to solve and understand. This ensures awareness, along with fun, when solving the tasks in the game. Players learn about space hazards by going through them. After all, experience is the best teacher!
We made use of Adobe XD and Figma to do wireframing tasks and created our final prototype using Adobe XD. All images used are stock-free.
Space Agency Data
https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/hazards
https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-345/
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-326/
We researched on the web and validated with the genelab-data research and nasa.gov about all possible risks that an astronaut could face when in space. This formed the basis for the metrics about the overall health and conditions of our crew and spaceship. We did extensive research to come up with the right parameters to monitor, and the right actions to be undertaken for our game in order to minimize risks for the crew. The research was fundamental to our game strategy.
Hackathon Journey
It was an exhilarating and informative experience. All our team members enjoy game designing, so naturally, our attention shifted to this challenge. While designing the prototype, we had to research a lot and learned a lot of new information on space travel.
We believe the best way to learn something is to experience it ourselves. Therefore, we decided to educate children on space hazards by making them face it. Since our team members were from different backgrounds, we had a language barrier, which we successfully overcame by exchanging ideas mostly through illustrations with minimum English use.
In addition, we would like to thank the organizers of the event for giving us an opportunity to interact with enthusiastic people across the globe.
References
KEY SOURCES
https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/hazards
https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace
NASA VIDEOS ON SPACE HAZARDS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPinASEKA_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jRxgvwhGC0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_pbs8dG1oM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3-96ZbY5NA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgGt03MjHfA
SPACE APPS CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlHD5HfFJlE&list=PL37Yhb2zout05pUjr7OoRFpTNroq_wd9f&index=3
ADDITIONAL READING
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-345/
https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/accession/GLDS-326/
https://www.popsci.com/story/health/heart-size-space-zero-gravity/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/oxygen-made-aboard-spacecraft.htm
Tags
#art, #prototype, #ADOBEXD, #educationalGames
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.