03.15
Kevin Kee talk on April 1 at Augmented Reality Lab

Added by Sanja

TORONTO DIGITAL CITY LABS SPEAKER SERIES

Kevin Kee

Canada Research Chair of Humanities Computing
Brock University

It's the end of serious games as we know them, and I feel fine

Thursday, April 1, 2010.
3:00 pm

Augmented Reality Lab
York University
Joan & Martin Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts
Room 309 CFA

All are welcome!

ABSTRACT

Following the launch of the Serious Games Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in 2002, academics have explored the use of gaming strategies and technologies to teach "serious" content. Eight years later, it is time to take stock: what have we learned? In this presentation I will draw conclusions from the literature, and from my research, making reference to several Canadian history "serious games" that I have developed (including games in virtual worlds, isometric environments, and mixed-reality and augmented-reality environments (including a heritage tour/game for the iPhone)). I will explain why I think we should stop using the term "serious game", and why I think the playful use of mixed- and augmented-reality is rich with potential for historians and other humanists.

BIOGRAPHY

Kevin Kee is the Canada Research Chair of Humanities Computing, and an Associate Professor in the Department of History, at Brock University, as well as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education at McGill University. Before arriving to Brock in 2005, he was a Director and Project Director at the National Film Board of Canada (1999-2002), and an Assistant Professor at McGill University (2002-2005). Recently, Kee organized the “Interacting with Immersive Worlds Conference”, and helped create nGen – an interactive media generator located in Niagara.
His research is focused on best practices for the design, development and use of computer simulations and serious games for history. He leads the “Simulating History” research project, and direct the “Simulating History” research lab at Brock University. He has written a book and articles on history computing and Canadian cultural history, and developed history Web sites, simulations and games. He also leads a company that develops simulations and games for learning and entertainment.