We’ve talked a lot about various gamified check-in sites and apps that allow you to complete chores, do good deeds and lose weight on the Gamification blogs recently. While these apps are fun, engaging and helpful to those who are already motivated, they are all still susceptible to getting “gamed”. In any game or gamified structure you will find those people who love winning so much that they’ll cheat to get to the top. Or they’ll lie to themselves (well, I thought about exercising today, that should still count) and create excuses. Sometimes checking in will become too tedious and users will simply forget. How do you combat that and design a system where it’s clear that users are being honest and keeping good records to create accurate data?
GreenGoose has developed a solution to changing one’s lifestyle in small, simple ways and keeping track in a way that’s hassle-free. GreenGoose is a real life game platform, based around a little egg shaped base-station.
The game kit also comes with sensors that can be attached to your toothbrush, your water bottle, your vitamins and more. Then, every time you brush your teeth, drink water or take your vitamins, the base-station receives a signal for completing said pro-you activity. There’s even a smart pedometer that tracks your steps independently of any other objects moving around in your bag or pockets. Register your “intentions” and get points for doing positive actions and staying consistant. Earn points that can be used on offers from partner companies. You can even use the system to make sure your kids are doing their chores and reward them accordingly.
The base-station only has a range of 250 feet, but sensors save their data until they can are within reach to re-sync. It only takes a few minutes to set up, but installing it with an ethernet cable into an existing internet router. So far, this seems to be the easiest system to use for those interested in making small positive lifestyle changes, get rewarded and not have to bother with tracking data and checking in. Right now the system is in beta and will soon be available for pre-order. Check back with their site to find out more info and updates.
What will be interesting to see is how this company shapes itself to work with the new devices with NFC, which is slated for release later this year. The sticker sensors are passive which means you need to activate it by placing it near a powered device, which in turn could be your phone. You’re more likely to pack your phone around with you over that huge green egg. Still, its probably easier to brush your teeth with the egg over your phone. The future for companies like this is to embed their sensors into clothing, apparel, and other things of use where your phone, or similar master device can determine the action/intent with the array. Like LBS, the future is passive collection of information. Look forward to the updates/info/review.
Wow what a cool product concept! I really gotta agree with Mike on this one, I am curious to see where they will be in the next year and how they advance their products. Really makes you wonder where the gamification model is going to be in a couple of years. I remember when UPS started using games to train employees a few years ago. Now loyalty programs are evolving, companies are moving towards online status rewards etc. Great article Gamification: Game Design In The Real World for an overview http://bit.ly/fFE4FR
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers in the World! Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday and I know that eventhough it is celebrated on a different dates depending on where you are, I wish to greet all mothers on this day!