Bright Horizons : A Procedurally Generated Serious Game to Promote Learning in Individuals Affected by Trisomy-21

Abstract

"The special education domain caters to a multitude of individuals with varying mental and physical challenges. Individuals affected by Trisomy 21 fall under the same umbrella as individuals requiring special education. This genetic disorder is commonly referred to as Down syndrome (DS), which is a result of an extra chromosome in an individuals’ DNA and can cause developmental and cognitive challenges all throughout their lives. The conventional methods of educating children in third world countries, with the inclusion of Sri Lanka, shows signs of disparity towards individuals with special needs. Children affected by Trisomy 21 falls victim to the lack of tailored educational approaches.

Respective medical data shows that higher Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) levels in the brain of an individual affected by Trisomy 21 reduces neuroplasticity, which also reduces the effectiveness of learning resources provided to them. Medical data also indicate that certain game genres increase the levels of dopamine in the brains of these individuals which result in lower GABA levels for a brief period of time. Furthermore, it has been identified that individuals affected by Trisomy 21 are strong visual learners, hence the proposed solution by the author comes in the form of a serious game, which not only caters to the visual learning preferences of these individuals but also aims to reduce the GABA levels in the brain to effectively provide learning resources.

The serious game: ‘Bright Horizons,’ uses a procedurally generated approach to the level design, resulting in a unique experience for the individual each playthrough, to ensure the highest possibility of engagement. Furthermore, a regression model will be used to calculate the ideal activity engagement time based off acquired medical data containing gene expression change values. Learning resources such as numbers, letters and colors will be saturated throughout the gameplay loop so that the individuals in consideration can actively learn while being engaged in the gameplay."