From brandon.keely AT gmail.com Wed Nov 23 16:04:39 2005 Hi Mr. Perlin, My main observation/lesson from our experience at the NY Hall of Science was this: We adults liked the simulations because we had the context to understand what was going on--kids do not have that context. For example, in the solid-liquid-gas molecule simulation, an adult can see a phase change on the micro level and find it interesting, because it both confirms what they already know about physics and it contradicts their general day-to-day concept of what liquid gas and solids look like. It both challenges an adult and makes him/her feel smart. But kids, on the other hand, make no connection, and have no incentive to keep looking at the simulation, because what's so fun about inexplicable bouncing dots? (Adults seem to see the physics, while kids see the dots.) -Brandon --------------------------------------------------------------------- From kml287 AT nyu.edu Wed Nov 23 11:52:27 2005 Prof. Perlin The experience that we went to NY Hall of Science is really amazing and indeed unforgettable. That is my first time to have the chance to observe how young children react with the table game we set or all those equipments in the museum. Most of the children like things give them "huge" feedback, especially those equipments need their whole body to do the experiments. Only little of them would just sit there, see something and think something. I think they are just too small to have that patience. However, for heigh school students they would be willing to observe something, maybe just stand in front of a machine and look what happen for five or ten minutes. That is true that in most cases, people would pay more attention to the whole environment as they grow up. I am impressed that when I was having fun with a machine that could make sounds and music, there came a child and he just press a few buttons and found out there's no reaction shown on the board but just the light of the button on and off. And then he looked bored and walked away. I guess he did not notice that there were some sounds and music came out...though the sound is not very loud actually. But whenever they meet something give them more reaction or is more obvious, they would just stay there and have fun, even they don't really know what's the physics behind that. The last but not least is that I do have a great time in the NY Hall of Science, everything is amazing and I really learned a lot from the experience. Have a happy thanksgiving!! Thank you, Kai-Mun Leung --------------------------------------------------------------------- From maa385 AT nyu.edu Mon Nov 28 12:06:52 2005 Dear Professor Perlin, The experience from the NY hall of science taught me both about human psychology and computer gaming. By observing kids i noticed that by using a proper blend of following four things we can create a highly immersive experience. 1.) Sound : As long as sounds are coming out from the game kids know that something is happening and they feel themselves as a part of it. 2.)User Interface: Funny looking cartoon style interfaces are more popular with kids because they see these interfaces as more immersive and carrying more fun. 3.)Motion: As long as the things are moving on the sceen you can keep the attention of players. When the things move slowly or the players have to pause for sometime to wait for something to happen then they begin to lose interest. 4.) Simplicity: For a place such as NY hall of science simple and self explanatory games are suited best. No body there wants to read a manual or a tutorial everybody just wants to start experiencing the game. So any tutorial or guidance should be built as a part of game instead of seprate one. I think these four themes also more closely align to human psychology and we are more tempted towards things and experiences that carry a blend of these four. I hope i can carry this experience of NY Hall of science further and use it to build future computer games. Regards, M Abid Abbas Chaudhry