Word out!: learning the alphabet through full body interactions

Abstract

This paper presents Word Out, an interactive game for learning of the alphabet through full body interaction. Targeted for children 4-7 years old, Word Out employs the Microsoft Kinect to detect the silhouette of players. Players are tasked to twist and form their bodies to match the shapes of the letters displayed on the screen. By adopting full body interactions in games, we aim to promote learning through play, as well as encourage collaboration and kinesthetic learning for children. Over two months, more than 15,000 children have played Word Out installed in two different museums. This paper presents the design and implementation of the Word Out game, preliminary analyses of a survey carried out at the museums to share insights and discusses future work.