Monthly Archives: June 2016

The Go Game is always looking for brand new ways to incorporate cool interactive technology into our games and simulations. Technologies like Augmented Reality and sensors that collect external information are inching out of science fiction and into our daily lives. At the Go Game, we’re interested in how we can put these types of technologies into use in our games. Many have begun to see how they can improve lives with a fusion of games and technology. MIRA (Medical Interactive Recovery Assistant), is a software that has melded technology, health, and — our favorite! — games.

Many patients (such as Cosmin Mihaiu, the founder of MIRA) find their physiotherapy exercises fantastically dull and unappealing. On top of this, physical therapy and rehabilitation after an injury can be both physically and emotionally draining. MIRA’s software helps recovering patients actually have fun while completing exercises that help them regain control over their bodies. The system operates on existing hardware, so it is accessible for immediate use by doctors, and hopefully patients will soon be using it at home. The system transforms existing physical therapy exercises into video games that give patients instant feedback and positive reinforcement. An external sensor tracks the patient’s progress, and sends the information straight to their physical therapist. In an interview Mihaiu said that, “patients stay entertained and feel rewarded as they watch themselves advance from level to level, gathering points and so on. They feel like they’re making progress — and of course, by doing the exercises, they actually are!” Disguising physical therapy as video games inspires patients to work through their recovery faster, while having more fun!

Innovations like MIRA  combine blend games and technology to fuel positive healing and growth. We already love games because they are fun and entertaining. Now, with advances in technology like MIRA’s sensitive motion-detecting sensors  – and the creativity to use them well – we can amplify the power of play and its effects.

So what do you think? At the Go Game, we see technology as an opportunity to improve individual growth and strengthen human connections. We’re playing with how to fully employ these kinds of new technologies in our newest projects. How do you want to see kinetic sensors, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and other cutting-edge technology used in games? Let us know!

 What makes some teams flourish while others flop? Google’s extensive research on the subject has found the magic ingredient to teamwork success, and The Go Game knows how to mix it into your workplace.

According to Google, the best teams have what Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson calls psychological safety. This term describes a group culture in which members feel at ease taking risks. It is the shared belief that members will not be embarrassed, rejected, or punished for speaking up. Sounds nice, right? Studies (and common sense) show that teams can develop this crucial element with some good old-fashioned playtime.

Groups are more productive when members feel safe and supported in their work environment. Instead of hiding their mistakes, psychologically safe teams greet mistakes as learning opportunities. Team meetings feel relaxed and energizing. People interject and build off each other’s ideas. When someone goes off on a tangent, the rest of the group follows along the new train of thought. Meetings start and end by naturally sliding into casual chitchat. All this may not sound like the model for high productivity and success, but it is. In markets that increasingly rely on creative ideas and innovative approaches, a psychologically safe team is not only happier; it’s also more productive. When an environment encourages people to take risks, creativity is free to manifest.

A surefire way to develop a psychologically safe workplace is through… play! Play has a positive impact for all the reasons you would expect. When people work together towards a common goal while having fun, they establish positive group norms that will transfer back to the workplace. Most importantly, playing with others has been scientifically proven to increase empathy between teammates. Psychologist Jeff Mogul found that just 15 minutes of playing rock band with a total stranger makes you feel empathy towards them. This is significant because empathy is at the root of psychological safety. Google’s research shows that in the best teams — the psychologically safe teams — people listen to each other and are emotionally sensitive to their teammates. So if just 15 minutes of rock band can make complete strangers let down their emotional guard, imagine what hours of wacky collaborative team challenges can do.

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