Singapore wants gaming apps to train health staff
By Medha Basu
New contest launched to build games for nurses and patients.
Image: Maurizio Pesce, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Gamification is a technique that simulates real-world scenarios, giving rewards to players to behave in a certain way or learn something new.
Participants of the new challenge can use technologies like sensors, wearables, analytics, robots, artificial intelligence and virtual reality to build their games.
The government is looking for games on primary prevention and care, hospital clinical management, and post-discharge care.
The content is jointly organised by the Infocomm Development Authority, National Healthcare Group, and Serious Games Association, which signed a Memorandum of Intent yesterday.
“Prototypes with the most innovative, original concept, while displaying feasibility, relevance and long-term sustainability, will stand to win the top prize of S$3,000,“ they said in a joint statement.
Hospitals in Singapore have already created four prototype games. In one game designed by Tan Tock Seng Hospital, staff navigate a 3D virtual hospital to identify infectious diseases and use the right protective equipment. Players receive scores and feedback to understand how well they performed.
Another app built by the hospital helps rehabilitate survivors of brain injuries. The app provides therapy to exercise their brain functions, and also educates them on recovering from such injuries. Caregivers can remotely monitor the player’s performance on the app to track their progress.
The contest is accepting submissions until 18 April on this site. A shorlisted set of ideas will then have three months to build prototypes. The top teams will be announced on 23 September.