SPACE SHAPERS

Storybook experience including physical and digital interactive features for both the parent and child to be ”edu-tained” on how to become wise media consumers and monitors of their own media practices

DECEMBER 2021

VAN N. TRUSKETT

Executive Director, Texas Innovation Center

The University of Texas at Austin

ERIN REILLY

Founding Director, Texas Immersive Institute

The University of Texas at Austin

BEN KRAMER

Director of Education at KLRU-TV

Austin PBS

• Texas Innovation Center brought in Texas Immersive Institute(TXI) to develop and design the experience for Austin PBS.
• Austin PBS, Texas Innovation Center, and Texas Immersive Institute recruited and hired three TXI students to work with Sarah Krueger, TXI Program Coordinator and Ben Kramer, VP of Education at Austin PBS, and take on the project.

LONGHORN COLLABORATION

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PBS BRIEF OVERVIEW

Objectives:

• Present comprehensible, operational guidelines for parents of young children (0-8) and childcare providers on how to wisely, safely, and happily incorporate contemporary digital media into kids’ and families' lives.
• Provide parents and other caregivers, especially those without strong digital literacy backgrounds, tools to evaluate the quality of kids’ media experiences and options for improvement.

Goal:

• Combine cutting edge research, technological capacity and care/concern for kids and families into ideas for deployment (via media, tech, events, grassroots dissemination)

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• Space Shapers is a digital storybook and a physical deck of cards experience, both with interactive features for the parent and child to be ”edu-tained” on how to become wise media consumers and monitors of their own media practices.
• The experience includes:
• Digital and interactive storybook (i.e. embedded short-form videos, games, media practice tips)
• Interactive card deck extension with AR features (can be used in collaboration with stories and alone)

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SPACE SHAPERS

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• Goal: To educate and entertain, ‘edu-tain’, the skills and mindset necessary to become wise media consumers and monitors of their own practices and to surpass socioeconomic boundaries.
• Target Audience: Parents, educators, childcare providers, and children 2 to 8 years old who engage with media
• We want to create a space for conversations about healthy media consumption, as well as offer kids themselves the skills and mindset to become wise media consumers and monitors of their own media practices.

SPACE SHAPERS GOAL & TARGET AUDIENCE

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MODES OF ENTERTAINMENT

1) Entertainment

“Entertainment mode describes the moments when people are looking to be entertained and brought away from ‘everyday life’”

• Design Implications: Spaces designed for entertainment should employ novel and unique design features that make a memorable impact. The child audience is looking for a fun story experience that will keep their attention.

2) Social

“In social mode, people’s main intention is engaging with other people. Social mode is frequently combined with other modes”

• Design Implications: Providing a wide variety of spaces that support social connection and a sense of community is paramount. The child is expecting to have a story time experience with their guardian.

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NARRATIVE WIREFRAME

1. Onboarding of Experience
2. Adventure/Mission Proposal
3. "Yes, but later..."
4. Trouble Ensues
5. Interactive Element #1
6. Problem Resolved
7. "To continue, we must..."
8. Interactive Element #2
9. Mission continues, lesson formally introduced
10. Mission Conclusion
11. Offboarding of Experience

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MEET THE SPACE SHAPERS!

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MEET SAM

Role: Guide of the Experience

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Characteristics: Optimistic, cheerful, lively, gender-neutral, daydreamer, curious

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Sam is the guide of the experience and designed as the child character.

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MEET BALANCING BALL

Media Lesson: How to Balance On and Off-Screen Time— there is a time and place for consuming media

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Characteristics: A little clumsy, easily distracted, similar to Mater from Pixar's Cars

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Physical Look: Awkwardly long hands and feet to represent the lack of balance that they have, circular head

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Balancing Ball is designed to be a friend figure for Sam.

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MEET TAPPY TRIANGLE

Media Lesson: How to Create vs. Consume with Devices

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Characteristics: Creative, big dreamer but lacks initiative, passive consumer, lethargic

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Physical Look: Large finger representing an excessive need to tap, triangular head, large eyes that are crossed

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Tappy Triangle is designed to be a sibling figure to Sam.

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MEET ZONED OUT ZIGGY

Media Lesson: How to Stay Present

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Characteristics: Forgetful, Zoned out all the time, Always ends up in dangerous situations

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Physical Look: Lightning zig-zag shaped head, hunched over, eyes dazed and hypnotized, eye bags

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Zoned Out Ziggy is the parent figure to Sam.

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• Consists of:
• PBS Main Page
• Sam introduces themself and walks through the different interactive elements in a short tutorial video before the story starts.

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ONBOARDING EXPERIENCE

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• Summary:

Want to visit Mars for the day? Come with us and our best friend, Balancing Ball, to travel and fly in a spaceship, fight off meteors, and explore the red planet. I must warn you though, Balancing Ball may have a hard time staying focused…

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BALANCING BALL NARRATIVE

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• Sam opens their eyes to a beautiful day. The Sun is out, and the birds are chirping. They see a world of possibilities.

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• "Today, we can do anything! We can run with the dinosaurs through the forest, swim underwater with narwhals, fly on broomsticks through the sky.” Sam stares at the window for a few moments. "Oh I know! Let's head to our spaceship and blast off to Mars."

• "But wait! Before we can prepare to blast off, we need a teammate for our space adventure. Let's go visit the best person to keep us on track, my best friend, Balancing Ball!”
• Sam's imaginary world starts bleeding into reality as Sam floats their way to the front door and towards Balancing Ball's house.

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• Sam pushes Ball's door open, revealing Balancing Ball standing by their bed, eyes crossing with their face covered by their tablet.
• Sam asks Balancing Ball, "How would you like to be part of my space adventure?"

• Ball lays on their bed and peeks their head from the side of the tablet to say, "Yeah! Give me two more minutes, I am in the middle of watching cute little duckies get a bath!”
• The house begins to shake as the imaginary world becomes compromised. Sam yells out, "Oh no! It's time to head to the spaceship!"

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INTERACTIVE ELEMENT #1

• Instructions: You are helping Balancing Ball steer the spaceship to start your journey towards Mars. Beware of asteroids that contain distracting content.
• How to Play: Steer the house towards the stars to make your way through!
• Tip: The more stars you catch, the faster you can escape the asteroids!

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SHORT- FORM VIDEO

• Sam and Balancing Ball barely dodge the asteroid, but Sam grabs hold of the wheel to get them on track. Balancing Ball returns their focus on their device, creating tears in the imaginary world. The spaceship starts shaking again.
• Sam starts to panic and yells "Balancing Ball, space out your screen time!"
• Balancing Ball snaps out of their daze and returns their attention to the present moment.

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• Balancing Ball and Sam fly safely out of the asteroids and through the stars. Balancing Ball says "Sorry for being so distracted. Where are we going next?”
• A warning sound starts echoing through the cockpit. The spaceship's fuel level is low! Sam announces "Well, I guess it's time to head to the gas station."

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• Balancing Ball says curiously, “Where are we going to find a gas station in space?”
• But lo and behold, there appears a gas station in space!

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INTERACTIVE ELEMENT #2

• The spaceship's gas tank is low!
• Instructions: Make sure Ball stays focused and fuels up the spaceship all the way to the mark.
• How to Play: Tap on Ball every time they get distracted by their phone to return their focus to fueling up.

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• Sam: "Oh no, Ball! We'll never make it to Mars at this rate! With no fuel for our spaceship, our mission is ruined." Sam sits on a moon rock defeatedly.
• Ball, realizing their mistake, says to Sam, "I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you!" Ball takes off in such a rush that their phone is thrown into the air. As they fuel up the spaceship at supersonic speed, they leave a white trail behind them, revealing a sparkling spaceship in their wake.

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• Balancing Ball zooms back to Sam, whose mouth is open in disbelief, with two "space slushies" from the gas station.
• Ball angles the slushie into Sam's jaw-dropped mouth, and Sam pulls their mouth to the side and starts to slurp. Ball says, "Ready to get out of here?" Sam responds enthusiastically "Let’s go!
• Sam concludes the game by stating, “Thank you so much for helping me fuel my spaceship!"

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• Balancing Ball and Sam step back in to the spaceship and buckle up. Sam excitedly says, "Are you ready to blast off to Mars?”
• Balancing Ball says "Yes let's..." They get distracted by their phone again, and Sam panics and says "Balancing Ball, space out your screen time!”
• However, the spaceship does not shake. Instead, Balancing Ball shows his screen to Sam and says, "I just wanted to play a song celebrating our journey to Mars.” Sam smiles as the music soars, and they say,

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SHORT- FORM VIDEO

• Balancing Ball and Sam land on Mars! They begin to swing, slide, and play.
• When the characters turn around, the world is back to normal and the amusement park is now a neighborhood playground. Sam looks at Balancing Ball and the two run towards the playground together!

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• After the experience, the offboarding process will consist of:
• Asking the user, "Are you ready to start your own adventure?"
• Introduction to interactive extension: Card Deck
• *Deck design is in development*

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OFFBOARDING EXPERIENCE

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• Summary:
• Let’s cheer up Tappy Triangle and visit the Moon for the evening!
• Tappy Triangle and you will build a fantastic space fort, put on a performance for aliens, and leave your own mark on the moon. However, Tappy Triangle may need some help along the way. Can you give them the nudge they need?

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TAPPY TRIANGLE NARRATIVE

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• When Tappy Triangle and Sam were children, they always talked about the moon and all the possibilities the moon held. They dreamed about the rickety elevator that rises through clouds to the moon and the adventure it would entail.
• However, Tappy grew up and seemed to care less and less about the moon, the rickety elevator, and the adventure.
• But, Sam never forgot about their dream.

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• In fact, Sam reminds Tappy every day. But all Tappy wants to do now is tap on their phone. Tap, scroll, swipe, tap, tap.
• But not tonight. As Tappy and Sam finish their dinner, Ziggy announces, "Okay, you two can be up for ONE more hour and then it's bedtime!”
• Perfect! Sam skips up to Tappy and says,

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• Tappy glances at Sam but then continues to tap on their phone. They sigh and say, "Can we do this later? I need to finish scrolling on OurSpace."
• Sam says, "Forget OurSpace! We need to go TO space! Let's go—we only have an hour!”
• Sam drags Tappy to their backyard as the imaginary world starts engulfing the space, revealing the rickety elevator. Eyes wide and at a loss for words, Tappy steps into the elevator with Sam.

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• As the elevator starts rumbling upward, Tappy's focus is back on the phone. The elevator suddenly halts to a stop.
• Puzzled, Sam and Tappy pry the door open, stepping onto a fluffy cloud way above their backyard.
• Suddenly, a monster forms from the clouds and roars, "You have trespassed!" shaking the elevator and the air around them.

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• A group of Cloud Monsters storm the scene. Sam looks to Tappy and shrieks, "Oh no! The Cloud Monsters are getting closer!”
• Tappy, still tapping the day away, drops their phone when the Cloud Monsters crash into the elevator.
• Suddenly, Sam has an idea! Sam asks Tappy, "Why don't we use your phone to create a lullaby to put the Monsters to sleep?”
• Tappy Triangle picks up their phone and replies, confused, "I didn't think my phone could do that... I've only used it to scroll on OurSpace...”
• Sam addresses the user,

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INTERACTIVE ELEMENT #1

• Instructions: The Cloud Monster will calm down once you play them a tune. Compose a lullaby to get the Monsters to snooze so Tappy and Sam can visit the Moon!
• Parent Tip: Diversify the way your child uses their device. Encourage them to use their device to create or enhance their playtime. Let's take advantage of all the creative possibilities of media!
• Comparable to Daniel Tiger’s Feel the Music by PBS

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• The Cloud Monsters are now all sound asleep and dreaming. Sam and Tappy give each other a high five and press the elevator button to the Moon.
• The elevator once again begins moving up through the clouds.

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• Suddenly... the elevator halts with finality. "Oh no! Did it just break again? But we were so close to the Moon," says Sam.
• Tappy and Sam step out of the elevator onto another cloud. Tappy looks down at their device and says, "Do you think we could use my phone again to create a way to get to the moon?"
• Sam exclaims,

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INTERACTIVE ELEMENT #2

• Instructions: Draw a creature that will take you to the moon!
• How to Play: Tap to choose a color, and use your finger to sketch. Do not forget the wings!

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• Tappy and Sam finally make their way to the moon with the help of their winged creature. As they land, Sam and Tappy marvel at the beauty of the moon.
• Sam says, "See, with a little imagination and creativity with the help of your phone ... we can make it to the Moon!”
• Tappy yawns, and Sam asks, "Should we set up fort?"

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INTERACTIVE ELEMENT #3

• Instructions: It's time to set up a fort and to watch the shooting stars from the Moon!
• How to Play: Drag and drop items to create a fort on the Moon OR make a pillow fort at home with the pillows closest to you!
• Comparable to Construct-a-saurus by BrainPOP Jr.

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• Tappy and Sam get all cozied up in their fort and watch the cloud monsters dance, stars shoot across the sky, and aliens play card games.
• Tappy grabs their phone asks, "Do you want to watch this video before the hour is up?”
• Sam responds, "No, let's enjoy the view! It's sometimes better to give our brain a rest and just take a moment. Breathe in the night sky.”
• Tappy looks up and nods. "Okay, you're right."
• As Tappy and Sam doze off, the world begins to fade around them, leaving Tappy Triangle and Sam sound asleep in their beds.

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TEXAS INNOVATION CENTER

• After the experience, the offboarding process will consist of:
• Asking the user, "Are you ready to start your own adventure?"
• Introduction to interactive extension: Card Deck
• *Deck design is in development*

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OFFBOARDING EXPERIENCE

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• Summary:
• It's the weekend! Let's do something exciting!
• How about watching a meteor shower? Come with Zoned Out Ziggy and Sam to explore Saturn, Neptune, and Mars!

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ZONED OUT ZIGGY NARRATIVE

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• A day out on Earth? BORING. It’s time for a day out in space. Space is the place to be. In the town of Spacelvania, there are so many things to do and see. Together, Sam and their parent, Ziggy, will go grocery shopping at Saturn’s Market, pass through the space walk, and see the most beautiful shooting stars anyone has ever seen at Mars Park. It’s time to blast!

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• Sam asks Ziggy, "Are you ready to go? I'm so excited to see the city, touch moon rocks, taste space marshmallows, and go UFO watching with you!
• Ziggy smiles lovingly at Sam. However, as the two step outside their house to embark on their journey, Ziggy keeps glancing down at their ever-buzzing device.

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• As they walk past the busy streets of Spacelvania, teeming with alien life, Sam takes it all in and skips ahead while Ziggy lags behind trying to read something off their phone. Ziggy says distractedly, "Let's make a stop at the grocery store first." Sam yells, "Saturn Mart!"

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SHORT-FORM VIDEO

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• Instructions: Put the right items into the shopping cart based on the grocery list. Beware, Zoned Out Ziggy keeps putting the wrong things into the cart! You will need to remove these items from the cart.
• How to Play: Drag and drop the right items from the shelf to the cart based on the grocery list. To keep Ziggy's attention, tap on Ziggy's shoulders!
• Comparable to Peppa Pig in the SuperMarket

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INTERACTIVE ELEMENT #1

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• Sam and Ziggy are holding shopping baskets filled with groceries.
• The grocery items transform into the items they need to continue their journey through the Spacelvania. Toilet paper becomes a telescope, the broomstick becomes a mini space robot, and apples become space marshmallows.

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• Ziggy looks at their phone and tells Sam, "Okay, we have made it past Saturn, now onto the next errand!!”
• Sam yells "Let's continue the journey onward! Onto the spacewalk!”
• Ziggy frowns as they look down at their phone and replies, "Yes, let's do it."

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INTERACTIVE ELEMENT #2

• Instructions: Lead Ziggy safely through the busy city streets! Watch out for the Alien goo and the street performing aliens! They play with fire and throw moon rocks!
• How to Play: Tap the arrows to navigate Ziggy away from the dangerous obstacles and towards safety!
• Comparable to Crossy Road by Hipster Whale

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• Once Ziggy and Sam make it past the scary space walk, they reach the park. They are surrounded by people flying kites, riding hot air balloons, and clouds floating through the sky.
• Ziggy begins to look frustrated as they glance at their phone once more. They shove their phone into their back pocket. Ziggy asks, "Okay, what are we seeing now?”
• Sam gets excited, and the sky turns into a galaxy of stars and UFOs floating around.
• Ziggy keeps hearing notifications. They try to ignore the notifications at first. The sounds only get louder and louder.

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• Instructions: Draw creatures and shapes in the clouds in the sky! But beware, Ziggy's phone won't stop buzzing and the phone alerts may get in the way of your screen!
• How to Play: Swipe away the notifications to clear your view of the sky before the alerts fill up the screen.
• Comparable to Fruit Ninja by Halfbrick

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INTERACTIVE ELEMENT #3

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• Zoned Out Ziggy gets a call and walks away while Sam gets ready to watch the meteor shower.
• Ziggy says, "Sam, it's time for us to go. We can't stay for the meteor shower." Ziggy hugs Sam and says, "I'm so sorry...”
• Sam tears up. "But you promised that we would go see the meteor shower."
• Sam tearfully follows Ziggy to the car and they drive home, only catching a glimpse of the meteor shower as it begins to rain down from the sky.

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• Sam sits alone in their room. Outside their window, Spacelvania shrinks away to reveal what the real world looks like underneath
• Ziggy enters the room and exclaims, "I’m all yours! What did you want to do?”
• Sam responds dejectedly, “Nothing. We missed everything.”
• Ziggy goes to hug Sam, but then they notice the sky outside Sam's window illuminating with the meteor shower.
• Ziggy smiles and says to Sam, "Did we miss everything?”
• Ziggy's phone buzzes one more time, but this time, they set their phone aside to step into the balcony with Sam to witness the meteor shower together.

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• After the experience, the offboarding process will consist of:
• Asking the user, "Are you ready to start your own adventure?"
• Introduction to interactive extension: Card Deck
• *Deck design is in development*

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OFFBOARDING EXPERIENCE

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• If the user interacts with all three character, they will unlock a “Space Shapers Go To Bed!”
• This module will remain locked until the user has gone through all three of our narratives.
• This module will incorporate all three characters singing along to a catchy song that will encourage children to focus on their bedtime routine.
• This will also feature interactive elements such as helping Balancing Ball brush their teeth, Tappy Triangle taking a bath, and even helping Ziggy choose their pajamas.
• Ends with a soothing video: https://youtu.be/rCSCPujLs14

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USER REWARD- LOCKED MODULE

• Example images based on Sesame Street: Healthy Teeth. Healthy Me: Brushy Brush PSA

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INTERACTIVE EXTENSION- CARD DECK EXPERIENCE

• A Space Shapers branded and designed deck of cards a child to engage their family/friends:
• Virtually – with a online card randomizer
• Physically – To give the families options and for accessibility

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• The card deck is designed to be used after the storybook experience, as all storybook users are directed to the virtual card deck OR as a standalone card deck experience with two types of card prompts:
• Online Play
• Ex: What is your favorite color? Write a song about what it is and why you love it! You can use any musical instruments you own, or you can use objects around your home as instruments! Or you can use our digital piano tool!
• Offline Play
• Ex: Arr! Time for a pirate adventure! Have one player pick out an object to hide as treasure. Everyone else: set sail!
• All four card types incorporate media use into the mix and include both online & offline play.

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CARD DECK- EXPERIENCE FLOW & SUITS

• General Card Deck Experience Flow:
• Gather two or more family members or friends
• Shuffle
• Draw a card
• Follow the prompt
• End (or draw a new card)

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• The card deck has the following four suits which are designed to refer to the characters while representing and invoking a certain type of child play:
• Let’s Imagine!
• Let’s Create!
• Let’s Chat!
• Wild Card

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CARD DECK- LET’S IMAGINE!

Character Representation: Balancing Ball

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Type of Child Play: Fantasy/Symbolic Play

**The design of card deck is in development**

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CARD DECK- LET’S CREATE!

Character Representation: Tappy Triangle

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Type of Child Play: Constructive Play

**The design of card deck is in development**

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CARD DECK- LET’S CHAT!

Character Representation: Zoned Out Ziggy

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Type of Child Play: Fantasy/Associative Play

**The design of card deck is in development**

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CARD DECK- WILD CARD

This suit is dedicated to the user where they are asked questions about themselves and introduced to traditional card games.

Type of Child Play: Reflective/Social Play

**The design of card deck is in development**

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VAN TRUSKETT

Executive Director

BENJAMIN KRAMER

Vice President – Education Services

ERIN REILLY

Founding Director

Texas Innovation Center

Austin PBS

Texas Immersive Institute

Texas Immersive Institute

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ANCHAL RAGHUVANSHI

1^st Year TXI Student

Writer, Designer

JOY ZHOU

3^rd Year TXI Student

Experience Designer

ANDREA GOMEL

1^st Year TXI Student

Experience Designer

SARAH KRUEGER

TXI Staff

Project Manager and Lead Experience Designer

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THANK YOU.

• Van Truskett, Executive Director, TxIC
• Erin Reilly, Founding Director, TXI
• Ben Kramer, Vice President, Austin PBS
• Sarah Krueger, Program Coordinator, TXI

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512-444-5555 or email@austin.utexas.edu

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engr.utexas.edu