October 22nd Revised Proposal
Include a one-sentence description of the project at the top of the narrative
Others and Isms is a portable interactive educational game, developed to be an aid in diversity training.
Outline major issues, areas of creative practice or scholarly practice engaged
I will modify a child's labyrinth, and the object of the game will be to navigate the ball through the maze, but instead of trying to make the ball reach the end, avoiding the holes, the goal is to make the ball contact with context labeled depressions which will trigger the corresponding audio interviews to play.
My creative practice is to implement using New Media in learning and training environments; I would like to integrate the audio of the human spoken word juxtaposed against visual statistical data.
Examples
Body Image
Spoken word: “I hate it when magazines only show those perfect bodies, like AM I supposed to exist as I actually am or not”
Statistical data: 100% of model photos are digitally enhanced.
Social context of the proposed project
The social context is to define many concepts of being the "Other", and thru a variety of
examples share what it feels like to be the other.
Identify and describe audience and intended impact of project relative to this audience
Education would use this tool to assist in the personal social development of their elementary, middle, and high school students. Private sector would use this tool in the development of acceptable models and codes regarding corporate culture. The penal system could also use this tool as part of their rehabilitation process.
The purpose of this game is to aid in diversity training. Modifications to content can be tailored to suit private sectors interests, or educational goals. The criteria is to develop a physical product which could be mass produced for minimal cost, as well as a product that requires the user not to require prior technological knowledge.
What problems/challenges are you are addressing?
There are three areas that pose challenges to the game design
I can efficiently solve both funding and issues of distribution by liaisoning with an existing non-profit organization
What activities do you want to support?
The distribution channel should run through Non Profit Organizations because they have access to both funding (grants and fees) and the programs that would utilize the game.
What do you hope people will learn/experience?
The object of the game is help the user understand what it feels like to be an Other in the context of isms like racism, sexism, ageism, and other isms. Triggering experiences and feelings of empathy, shame, and ownership, will hopefully lead to an improved communication and behavior.
What are existing approaches?
Most of the approaches to countering stereotypes, and isms include training materials developed for social organizations or government agencies.
Race context
This game is similar to Jane Elliot’s “Blue Eye Brown Eye” classroom lesson. An episode of sixty minutes Children She won the Peabody Prize for this work. 1970 work. More recently the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education has developed a game called Newsroom Diversity Game-Are You Up for the Challenge? You can play this game online or use it in a group setting.
What’s already out there?
Jane Elliot’s Blue Eye Black Eye exercise is so widely known that Western Cultures have probably already experienced her exercise, and once experienced there is no value in repetition.
Maynard Institute for Journalism Education has developed a game called Newsroom Diversity Game-Are You Up for the Challenge?
Welcome to the online interactive game that challenges players to diversify a typical newsroom, while testing their basic knowledge of cultures. You've just been appointed editor of a mid-size newspaper and the publisher has asked you to move aggressively to diversify newsroom staffing and the paper's content. You must set policy and make strategic decisions that will bring the racial makeup of your newsroom into parity with the surrounding community within four years.
How existing approaches informed your work?
It works!
How are they lacking?
These are the issues of Blue eye Brown eye.
dated – and once used the “aha” moment has passed. Jane Elliot’s Blue Eye Black Eye exercise is so widely known that Western Cultures have probably already experienced her exercise, and once experienced there is no value in repetition
race specific.
What are the design principles/rationale?
It is important to keep the game simple. The rational is that aesthetically the game should mirror the basic purity in the game. The imagery used on the board will be simple, quiet and understated.
What guides your design?
Simplicity is the basic principal of my entire model. This project is simple at the user level, simple at the conceptual level, and simple at the distribution level.
1. Minimal individual cost to produce.
2. Ease of distribution
3. Low technological user requirements
4. Purpose (use as an aid in diversity training)
Design constraints The physical game will measure 22”x22”x4”, and weigh about 2 lbs. Print, online or CD media, can be produced, duplicated and distributed more economically than a physical object which incurs cost s born of physical assembly, storage, packaging, and shipping.
Design process: how it functions and evolves I will modify a child's labyrinth, and the object of the game will be to navigate the ball through the maze, but instead of trying to make the ball reach the end, avoiding the holes, the goal is to make the ball contact with context labeled depressions, which will trigger corresponding audio interviews to play.
Description of key features Key features include how the ball rolls into the slots, and how the slots are identified.
Scenarios - Provide concrete example (or two) of how your project will engage users/participants/audience This is a hand eye coordination game that is fun to play, and the player gets to pick the content of their exploration. A player can try to find all the depressions that relate to sexism in an attempt to broaden their understanding
Design documents - mockups, visualizations, flowcharts
To be determined
Technical specifications (space, equipment, power, materials, security arrangements)
The actual game is small, and the tools and skill-set needed to manufacture the labyrinth are nominal. Security is not an issue as the materials has little value.
Possible: DANM210 proof of concept prototype would include 1. One labyrinth box 2. Three working triggers 3. Three interviews
Conceptual design
Two Months
The concept will be developed over a period of two months, with 80 hours (10 hrs per week x 8 weeks)
Prototyping (prototype = 5 batches of 20 units)
Two Months
Construction
Two Months
Presentation
Two Months
Documentation
Two Months
Number of people needed for various parts of development and how long each is required. One labourer with cabinetry skills would be required for six weeks of actual labyrinth production. I would be able to perform all other activities. Identify parts of project that can be developed concurrently and ones that must take place sequentially. Conceptual design would precede the prototyping, construction, presentation and documentation stages which would occur concurrently.
210 Project Proof of Concept Prototype Budget 1. Labyrinth excluding labour =$10 2. Mechanical devices (3 x 10) = $30 3. $30 Interviews (3 local interviews x $10) 4. $00 Overhead (2 months) 2 months using UCSC supplied office space 5. $00 Equipment purchase/rental $500 Video recorder – already own/$500 $200 Microphone – borrow/$200 $3000 Hardware/software- already own /$3000 Total = $ 70
210 Working Prototype Budget (basis of funding applications)
This prototype would include five sets of twenty hand made labyrinths, including packing material (crating and foam forms), and including agency promotion and publicity.
$2000 ($20 x 100 units)
$500 tools (table-saw, drill, clamps, work tables)
$3000 (6 weeks x $14 manufacturing labour)
$300 Crates $60 x 5*
$400 (8 crates of games loaned out – part of publicity)
$3000 short term lease or sublet office/manufacturing 600 sq ft ($1500 x2)
$1000 postage $200 office supplies $2,000 mailings printing costs $300 phone ($150 per month x 2)
$4000 (10 events at $400 each) $0 included in Administration and documentation costs
$0 Website, Documentation (covered by my salary)
$400 Legal Advice
$8,000 ($4,000 per month x 2)
$2550
5.* Bibliography*
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