This document discusses the role of serious games and immersive technologies in business and innovation. It defines serious games as games with a purpose beyond entertainment, and notes they have always been used as learning tools. Immersive applications like games, virtual worlds, and social networks engage human interests and emotions. They are disruptive because they capture attention in the digital economy. For business, they can be used for practice, revenue/client generation, recruitment and training, and cost reduction. Examples of innovation include technological advances, new forms of learning and collaboration, empowering communities, technical support, knowledge management, and training. Immersive technologies are uniquely driven by human needs and small businesses are driving innovation in this area.

1. Role of Serious Games and Immersive Technologies in Business Enterprise and Innovation Ludus Conference Politecnicodi Milano May 2011 David Wortley FRSA

2. Topics Introduction to Serious Games and Immersive Technologies Characteristics of Immersive Applications Business Enterprise Examples Innovation Examples Summary and Conclusion

3. Introduction to Serious Games and Immersive Technologies

4. What is a Serious Game ? Games generate passion, excitement, commitment, loyalty, belonging, awareness, support and action

5. Serious Games are NOT New Games have always been a serious learning tool

6. Games or Immersive Experiences ? Rules, Rewards, Virtual Worlds and Social Networks

7. Serious games have been defined as games whose primary purpose is not entertainment but has a potentially serious benefit or outcome.This definition is not always helpful because it does not reflect or embrace the full potential of technologies which create or use immersive experiences to deliver serious benefits

8. Immersive Applications Games Virtual Worlds Social Networks Immersive Application are commercially very significant because they engage our discretionary time, attention and money

9. Immersive Applications driven by Human Needs and Emotions Enhancing our lives, our world andour relationships – giving us access to a global network – building personalised relationship with our technologies

10. Why are Immersive Technologies Disruptive ?

11. Disruptive Communications Technologies The internet is different in its scope and impact on businessand society to any previous disruptive technology

12. The Prosumer The prosumer effect is unique in our history

13. The Attention Economy Capturing and retaining attention and loyalty are critical in today’s digital media society

14. The Secrets of Enterprise and Innovation Success Attractiveness Accessibility Affordability Does it interest/excite me ? Is it easy to access ? Can I afford the time, attention and money ?

15. Characteristics of Immersive Applications

17. Support exploration

18. Risk-free environment

19. Help our understanding

20. Engage our interest

21. Make inaccessible accessible

22. Build relationships

23. Bridge to Physical WorldExploration & Discovery

24. Encouraging Imagination (What if ?) Creating a new environment/experience can generate new approaches and innovative services

25. Supporting Exploration Applications which help us to explore and discover

26. Risk Free Environment Simulations reduce both cost and risk

27. Help our Understanding Immersive visualisations help us understand and manage our environment

28. Engage our Interest Make Boring Issues more relevant and interesting

29. Make the Inaccessible Accessible Creating new opportunities for the disadvantaged

30. Second Life – Second Chance Unleashing human potential

31. Building Relationships Creating and supporting networks of interest

32. Building Bridges “My SGI” Linking the physical and virtual environments

33. Business Enterprise Examples

34. What are the Key Features ? Personalisation / relevance Interface and Ubiquity Cost in time and money Ability to control / shape Richness of experience Challenge / motivation Intrinsic and extrinsic rewards

35. Business Enterprise Games Practice the skills needed to run a business

36. Revenue / Client Generation Find ways to connect to and retain customers

37. Recruitment and Training Assess skills and develop training plans

38. Reduce Costs Improving productivity and time management

39. Innovation Examples

40. Ticking all the Boxes Immersive Technologies have not only created huge market potential but have driven innovations across all sectors

41. Driving Technological Innovation 3D rendering, image processing, broadband speed, collaboration tools, networking, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition are all driven by Immersive Technology features

42. Innovation in Learning Bringing Science and Art together

43. Innovation in Collaboration Visualise data in richer and easy to understand ways

44. Innovation in the Community Empowering citizens and employees

45. Innovation in Technical Support Windows help – Get a friend to help you over the internetAsk experts and other Windows users !!

46. Innovation in Knowledge Management Intel’s Planet Blue is an internal social network

47. Innovation in Maritime Training Simulating emergency or combat scenarios

48. Innovation in Retail Services Innovating new services to the customer

49. Innovative in Interfaces Broadening user base and creating new experiences

50. Innovation in SMEs Small creative businesses at the leading edge

51. Summary and Conclusion

52. Envisioned Areas of Development

53. Main Points Immersive technologies are unique in history because of the prosumer effect It is human need driven – not technology or content Key technologies – sensors, interfaces, 3D, graphics, bandwidth, cloud computing, AI Physical and virtual worlds being integrated SME’s driving innovation more than researchers Emerging opportunities and threats

54. Questions ?

55. Role of Serious Games and Immersive Technologies in Business Enterprise and Innovation Ludus Conference Politecnicodi Milano May 2011 David Wortley FRSA