Index
Game-based solutions for logistics
Game-based solutions for logistics
In cooperation with the Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG we have investigated how gamification can be applied in inbound logistics. The project included the development, piloting and evaluation of an innovative gamification concept for use in modern digital logistics centers.
Project goals:
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- Structuring of the current body of knowledge of research on gamification in logistics
- Development of a gamification concept with the active involvement of relevant stakeholders based on the method of Morschheuser et al. (2018)
- Implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of gamification approaches in inbound logistics
Team: Jonathan Stief
Gamifying the human-AI interaction
Gamifying the human-AI interaction
Can digital games and their design principles improve the collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence (AI)? Funded by FAU’s Emerging Talents Initiative (ETI), we have conducted a research project to investigate how game design principles can help to optimize human-AI teaming.
Project objectives:
- Investigation of cooperation in games and derivation of design principles
- Investigation of the collaboration between humans and non-player characters (NPCs) in games and derivation of insights into designing more effective human-AI collaboration
- Conducting studies on the gamification of human-AI collaboration
Team:
Designing and understanding the effects of gamified VR training on human-robot teaming
Designing and understanding the effects of gamified VR training on human-robot teaming
In cooperation with Schaeffler, we conducted a research project to investigate how gameful design can be used in virtual reality training programs for improving human-robot interaction. The project aimed at developing and exploring how different gameful and playful design interventions can support and optimize collaboration in human-robot teaming.
Project goals:
- Structuring the knowledge of research on human-robot interaction, i.e., gamification of human-robot interaction
- Developing design interventions to support the collaboration of humans and robots in virtual reality training
- Investigation of the impact of gameful design on users’ perception and behavior
Team:
Designing a text-based adventure game to train an AI in reading handwriting
In collaboration with STABILO International GmbH, we developed a text-based adventure for the STABILO DigiPen. STABILO Dungeon is a gamified crowdsourcing approach that aims to engage people in writing words with the IoT device Digipen, a classic ballpoint pen equipped with sensors to detect movement and pressure of a person’s handwriting. The aim of this project is to collect handwriting data for further developing the Digipen’s machine learning algorithms.
The core game mechanism of STABILO Dungeon is primarily driven by a narrative: At predefined points in the game, the player controlling the protagonist can decide the story’s progression by writing down an actionable activity on standard paper. The possible activities are a set of pre-defined actions in the game, which makes it easy for the DigiPen to recognise the handwritten word and thus to further train the handwriting recognition.
While the benefits and potential of gamification have been consistently demonstrated in various research, it is crucial to acknowledge that gamification approaches are not always effective and vary in their success, possibly because standard gamification concepts such as one-size-fits-all (OSFA) approaches commonly lack the consideration of the diversity of users. However, with adaptive gamification, this issue can be addressed by adapting the system to the individual user’s preferences.
Between January and May 2022, the experiment was presented on two consecutive weekends at JOSEPHS, an open-innovation laboratory in the city-centre of Nuremberg, as well as at the “Long Night of the Sciences” in Nuremberg. In total, the study resulted in a collection of 8,563 crowdsourced handwritten words. 135 participants completed the experiment by playing the game as well as filling out two questionnaires which measured the players’ enjoyment and intention for future play, amongst others.
The public-service radio and television broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk released a short video in German showcasing the experiment as well as the DigiPen as part of the Frankenschau at 28.02.2022.
For more details, see: https://www.br.de/mediathek/video/erste-testlaeufe-intelligenter-stift-digitalisiert-handschrift-av:621d14290b569700085cde93
We thank Jens Barth, Tim Hamann and Peter Kaempf of STABILO International GmbH for the exciting collaboration.
The study was presented as a conference paper at the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences 2023 in January 2023. Please see the paper for full details:
ParKing – A gamified crowdsourcing approach to simplify parking
(The project was conducted by Dr. Benedikt Morschheuser outside FAU)
Finding a parking spot in large cities is often time-consuming and stressful. Studies conducted in different cities around the globe revealed that around 30% of prevailing traffic is cruising for parking (Shoup, 2005, 2006). The traffic generated by people searching for a parking spot has great economic and ecological consequences: Searching for parking is responsible for tons of carbon dioxide emissions every day and heavily influences the time and fuel consumption of other drivers (Arnott et al., 2005; Axhausen et al., 1994; Shoup, 2005, 2006).
The idea behind the project ParKing was that a “Gamified Parking Assistant System” may help drivers unfamiliar with the parking situation of a city, such as tourists or business travellers, with getting an overview and reducing their cruising for parking. As part of the project, gamification patterns for engaging people in sharing information on parking spaces has been identified, evaluated and a working prototype of a gamified parking assistant was developed. A three-month field experiment across Germany with 372 people showed that the concept worked out and a comprehensive map of on-street parking spaces could be generated.
Results concerning the effects of different gamification design features on motivation and participation received international attention in the gamification research community and were published in the article:
Morschheuser, B., Hamari, J., & Maedche, A. (2019). Cooperation or competition – When do people contribute more? A field experiment on gamification of crowdsourcing. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 127, 7−224. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2018.10.001
Please see the paper for full details:
Article in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
Free pre-print on ResearchGate
Furthermore, several news media reported about this project, including the national radio channel Deutschlandfunk as well as the newspapers Badische Neueste Nachrichten (BNN) and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
The website parking-app.de provides a detailed overview about the study conducted and the prototype developed with students from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Mannheim. The website summarizes bothproject vision and conducted research.
Based on the results of this study, Robert Bosch GmbH developed the app “Parkineers”, which has been released as iOS and Android app in Germany.
References
Arnott, R., Rave, T., & Schöb, R. (2005). Alleviating urban traffic congestion. MIT Press.
Axhausen, K. W., Polak, J. W., Boltze, M., & Puzicha, J. (1994). Effectiveness of the parking guidance system in Frankfurt am Main. Traffic Eng. Control 35, 304–309.
Shoup, D.C., 2006. Cruising for parking. Transp. Policy 13, 479–486. doi:10.1016/j.tranpol.2006.05.005
Shoup, D.C., 2005. The high cost of free parking. Planners Press, Chicago.
Morschheuser, B., Hamari, J., & Maedche, A. (2019). Cooperation or competition – When do people contribute more? A field experiment on gamification of crowdsourcing. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 127, 7−224. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2018.10.001
Research projects
PRIME – Privacy in the Metaverse
The metaverse is seen as a potential successor of today’s internet. While tech companies are emphasizing the enormous economic potential of the metaverse, it also poses new threats to the privacy of potential users.
In this context, the research project “PRIME – Privacy in the Metaverse” aims to gather knowledge in the current early phase of the development of metaverse platforms in order to enable citizens to engage in an informed discourse about the opportunities and risks of using metaverse platforms for their privacy, self-determination and data protection. The project also aims to develop new methods and design principles to support content creators and service providers on metaverse platforms in protecting the users’ privacy.
The joint project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for 36 months, is being carried out by our research group at FAU in close cooperation with Prof. Dr. Christian Thorun of ConPolicy GmbH in Berlin, Prof. Dr. Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider of the University of Bonn, Prof. Dr. Gerald Spindler of the University of Göttingen. In detail, the project pursues the following focal points:
- Design and evaluation of user interfaces and design principles that enable users of metaverse platforms to effectively exercise their right to privacy and, among other things, adequately support their informed consent, and protect themselves from harassment and assault.
- Development and testing of metrics to evaluate the design of virtual content on metaverse platforms for its impact on user privacy in order to mitigate dark patterns and deceptive designs in the metaverse.
- Research and testing of innovative design and development processes to gather the user opinions on metaverse content with respect to the aforementioned user interfaces and metrics, both using classical methods of usability research as well as methods used in the metaverse itself.
The research project builds on broad public relations and cooperation with regional partners, such as the open innovation lab JOSEPHS in Nuremberg, the XR Hub Bavaria, Games in Bavaria, or Journee Technologies GmbH.
Funding reference: 16KIS1895
Duration: July 1, 2023 – June 31, 2026
Further information:
– https://privacy-metaverse.de
– https://www.forschung-it-Sicherheit-kommunikationssysteme.de/projekte/prime
Team: Jeanine Kirchner-Krath, Runjie Xie
Discovering Gaming and Gameful Content Creation in Mobility
In cooperation with CARIAD, we are exploring in-car gaming and the art of creating gameful content within the automotive industry. It’s a unique blend of cutting-edge research and real-world application that promises to redefine how we experience cars. Based on our gamification and gaming expertise and the technological prowess of the CARIAD, we’re diving deep into the world of in-car gaming. We’re not just playing games; we’re shaping the future of mobility and entertainment. Our goal is to bring the excitement of gaming into mobility, creating immersive experiences that blend seamlessly with your daily commute. Imagine driving becoming more than just a chore – it becomes an adventure, a challenge, and a source of fun.
Project objectives:
- Design and development of gameful content creation solutions
- Explore factors influencing the in-car gaming experience
- Derivation of design principles
Team: Johanna Eiting, Jonathan Stief
Learn2Focus with Information Systems: Exploring the Potential of Motivational Information Systems against Procrastination in Academic Contexts
Procrastination – the deliberate postponement of necessary or important tasks knowing that this will have negative consequences in the future – is a widespread phenomenon in the academic context, affecting up to 50-70% of all students and researchers. In addition to obvious effects on academic performance, procrastination is also associated with serious consequences for mental health of those affected. The research project “Learn2Focus with Information Systems” aims to investigate the potential of motivational information systems as a novel and accessible intervention to support self-organized work in academic contexts.
Project objectives:
- Investigating the effects of motivational information systems to combat procrastination among students
- Deriving design recommendations for the design of motivational information systems against procrastination in the academic context
The project is funded by FAU’s scholarship program for the “Realization of Equal Opportunities for Women in Research and Teaching” (FFL).
Duration: September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024
Team: Jeanine Kirchner-Krath
Design and evaluation of gamification solutions to improve football training
In cooperation with adidas, we want to improve training and performance diagnostics in football through innovative gamification approaches. For this, we explore the impact of different gamification features using an existing adidas platform and wearable devices.
Project objectives:
- Design and development of different gamification features
- Evaluation of developed gamification features with regard to sociopsychological dynamics in the team and effects on the behavior of the football players
- Derive design recommendations and principles for gamification in team sports based on the results of field experiments
Team: Sandra Birnstiel
FontanQuest: A study on the potential of game-based training programs for children with Fontan circulation
In collaboration with the University Hospital Erlangen, we are investigating the psychological and behavioural outcomes of using game-based high-intensity interval training programs in children with Fontan circulation. The project is supported by the “Sonderfonds für wissenschaftliche Arbeiten an der FAU” by the city of Nuremberg and conducted together with PD Dr. Dr. med. Isabelle Schöffl from the pediatric cardiology department at the University Hospital Erlangen.
Completed projects
More details on our previous research will follow soon. In the meantime, please see our publications.
