Schminky

Schminky was a game which revolved around identifying missing musical sounds. Users played on their own or with others using handheld devices. A graphical and musical representation of the network of Schminky players was shown on screens around Watershed Café/Bar.

This project  – part of Mobile Bristol – aimed to explore the role of pervasive computing in social spaces and how it might enhance and encourage social interaction as a key factor in experience. Hewlett Packard’s design goals were to develop an experience that would be challenging, stimulate the senses, encourage social interaction and fit with the context of use.

Duncan Speakman was chosen to be the ‘creative’ on the project because he was a sound artist with intimate knowledge of Watershed and its clientele.

Development of the design of the game and its implementation was an iterative, highly experimental one with many forms of prototype and technical evaluation tests undertaken.

The culmination of the project was a week long public trial where visitors to Watershed could use an IPAQ handheld computer and play Schminky. Players worked to solve musical puzzles that involved identifying sounds missing from an audio prompt. They could play individually or invite other Schminky users in the bar to join in a group game. The game was specifically designed to promote social interaction and test acceptability of new technologies in social spaces.

Over the course of the week 140 different people tried the game, 5 people came back on different days to play again, 95 questionnaires were completed and bar taking increased 11% compared to the week before. Three quarters of the users played a multiplayer game and half of these were with strangers and nearly everyone enjoyed it.

Related Links
dshed.net/formality
duncanspeakman.net