AMAKiDSA window to knowledge

Who are we?

• Amakids (Amazing Kids) is a non-for profit organization that aims to develop an innovative way of teaching to visually impaired children

• Amakids mission is to introduce a new way of learning in order to improve the visually impaired children's’ wellbeing by improving their intellectual skills, interpersonal and physical conditions, as well as encouraging active learning rather than simple memorization.

• The objective of Amakids is to motivate the desire to acquire knowledge of the kids with partial or complete sight loss, by changing radically the actual way of learning. The knowledge acquisition will be based on the entertaining features of ad hoc designed 3D sound games. In a few words: Learning by Playing

• Through Amakids games, the knowledge formation will not be “boring” anymore, but a truly happy and entertaining activity through curiosity in exploring the next level or the next module

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Background evidence?

• Globally, the number of people of all ages living with sight loss is estimated to be 285 million, of whom 39 million are blind

• About 90% of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries• An estimated 19 million children worldwide have sight loss• 1.4 million children worldwide are irreversibly blind for the rest of their lives• There are over 570 schools worldwide which aim to help children with this inability. • Every 5 seconds one person in the world goes blind.

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Background evidence?

• In Albania there is only one National Institute created in 1963 that covers almost the whole country needs for the categories of students .

• The services are currently provided by the central government or offered by international and local NGOs. But even these services are concentrated mainly in Tirana and other cities with better infrastructure.

• That’s why the develop of this 3d game will reach families and children that are located in more distanced areas and may also be something fun and educational at the same time, thus making possible the inclusion and treatment of these children in the same way as everyone else.

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What do we want to do?

• We will develop an educational 3D sound game that through different modules will help children of age 5-17, to learn the main school courses throughout an entertaining manner.

• Amakids will develop different courses modules and levels for a complete learning of: • English • Math• Geography • History• Science, etc!

• Through Amakids games, the knowledge formation will not be “boring” anymore, but a truly happy and entreating activity through curiosity in exploring the next level or the next module

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How does it work?

• The games will have two orientation functionalities:o On one side the children will be directed through the 3D sound system to interact with

the gameo On the other side, the 3D graphics throughout the animated cartoons will support the

children assistants (parents or teachers)

• In practice, the kid will be oriented throughout the animated cartoon sound commands and the kid will interact/ take decisions throughout the mouse, direction keyboard commands and space button

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Why is it educational?

• All the game modules (English, Math, History, etc) and levels (First, Second, Third, etc) will be designed and organized according to the authorized teaching program and in collaboration with:– Institute of visual impairment children “Ramazan Kabashi”, Tirane – Ministry of Education– Specific teachers – Psychologists– Experts in teaching visually impaired children

• Teachers & Parents will be involved in the learning process through:– Teacher Forums and Newsletters– Games/pintables; geared to subjects & grade level– Family activities– Newsletter– Tips EN

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Social impact?

• Introduction of a different way to acquire knowledge – Knowledge through gaming • Direct improvement of blind children well-being• A new way of learning – through gaming

• Non-discrimination of children since the game can be played by everyone. • Assists child's orientation in space.

• We have found that games prove to enhance the– intellectual, – Interpersonal,– physical abilities of children– but most of all, It encourages active learning, rather than simple memorization.

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Technical Aspects?

• Operations - The game will offer a limited number of choices (2-5 alternatives) that the children is supposed to undertake in order to assure the speed and performance of the game

• Operating systems - The operating systems that the game could be installed/played for the fist versions will be Windows/ Linux/OS X/Android/IOS/Html5/Blackberry 10

• Sound orientation functionality - The game will implement a 3D stereo sound system. The sound orientation will be based on the hearing senses, in left and right directions. For example, when the sound will come from the left ear it means that the animated cartoon is moving on the left and the same applies for the right ear.

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Project phases?

• Phase 1 – Functionality Analysis and workflow engine creation– Kick-off & Development of the game engine along with the sound enhanced functionalities – Kick-off & Development of the first module – English language– Test & versioning of the game (Interface and User experience)

• Phase 2 – Launch of the Alpha & Beta versions of the first module - English – Launch of the Alpha & Beta (improved versions)– Kick-off of the IOs & Android programming – Finalizing the first module – English (I/II/III/IV levels)

• Phase 3 - Launch of the final version on PC & kick-off of the second module – Math– Kick-off of the second module - Mathematics– Launch of final version on PC– Launch of the Alpha & Beta IOs & Android versions– Test & versioning of the second module – Mathematics (I/II/III/IV levels)

• Phase 4 - Launch of the final versions for IOs and Android, and of the second module – Math– Launch of the final version of IOs & Android – Launch of the final version of the second module – Mathematics– Analyse the integration and kick-off of future modules – Geography , History, Science, etc!

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Work-plan timeline?

Tasks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Phase 1 – Analysis & Engine

Game engine & sound functions

Dev. of the 1module – English

Test & versioning of the game

Phase 2 – First Module “English”

Launch of the Alpha & Beta

Kick-off of the IOs & Android

Finalizing the 1 module – English

Phase 3 – Second Module “Math”

Kick-off of the 2module – Math

Launch of the Alpha & Beta IOs

Launch of final version on PC

Test & versioning of Math

Phase 4 – Final Versions

Launch of the final version of IOs

Launch of the 2 module – Math

Month 3 Month 6 Month 9

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Phase 1Functionality Analysis and workflow engine creation

Phase 5kick-off of future modules – Geography , History, Science, etc!

Phase 4Launch of the final versions for IOs and Android, and of the second module – Math

Phase 2Launch of the Alpha & Beta versions of the first module - English

Phase 3Launch of the final version on PC & kick-off of the 2 module – Math

September ‘14 January ‘15

Milestones?

March ‘15 July ‘15 Sept ‘15…

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Future developments?A window to knowledgeAMAKiDS

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• Balkan development – Launch the game for the other countries in Balkan countries

• Albanian development – Launch the game for the children with no sight problems in Albania

• Game enhancements – Voice control features, empowerment of the game modules through artificial intelligence technology

• Operating Systems – Enhance the actual operating systems and provide for new ones

Team?

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ANISA KADAREJA – Project managerRelevant experiences:• Master in Management of Social Enterprises, Non Profit and Cooperatives, SDA Bocconi School of

Management - University "L. Bocconi "of Milan• Creation Implementation of the Business Plan for the redevelopment of the former industrial area

Caerano San Marco, in the province of Treviso• Project manager on behalf of the Lombardy Region for projects which aimed the development of

corporate & territorial welfare .

ENGJELL RRAKLLIRelevant experiences: • 5 years of game development experience developing 2D and 3D games of various genres. • Bachelor degree in computer sciences and he is also a last year post graduate student in computer

science, faculty of natural sciences, University of Tirana.• Deals with the general management of the development team and selecting the technologies applied. • finding the most efficient development approach.

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Team?

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ALTIN KADAREJA Relevant experiences:• Consultant at Prometia , Milan, Italy• Risk Management at Intesa San Paolo , Milan, Italy• Master of science in Innovation and technology at Bocconi University, Milan• He is the financial manager of the project

ALDO BTURKURelevant experiences:• 2 years of modelling and animation experience. • Bachelor degree in computer sciences and he is actually completing the last year post graduate studies

in Information Technology, faculty of natural sciences, University of Tirana.• He is the main game designer and animator

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