DevTech Research Group | Prof. Marina Bers | Eliot Pearson Department of Child Development | Tufts University

http://ase.tufts.edu/devtech

Creating Community Through the World of ZoraCheryl Pedersen

is a 3D virtual world where kids can meet, share stories, and build objects in real time. The original world was created ten years ago by Professor Marina Bers as a social networking system for children undergoing transplants, children with diverse cultural backgrounds, and new Tufts students. Now DevTech is bringing Zora to inner city youth in Computer Clubhouses worldwide.

Fall Semester ’07 Research

Ambassadors were sent to local Computer Clubhouse sites, both to interest the youth there in Zora and to assess their affinity for the interface. I worked at the Flagship clubhouse at the Museum of Science in Boston.

Spring Semester ‘08 Research

This semester, several of the users’ suggestions are being put into place. I am testing the usefulness of robot programs in Zora using a simple robot that greets newcomers to the world. I am also working on a dynamic map.

Each point in these prototype maps represents an object in Zora. New objects are dark blue.

Each orange point on the last map is a house in Zora. The final map will let users jump to any of these locations.

Users communicate directly though the chat window. It was suggested that if each user were greeted by name when they logged in, it would be easier for others to recognize and talk to them.

My first day at the clubhouse

Generally, fewer people sign on during the weekend

ClubZora officially opens

My last day at the clubhouse Users can express

themselves through a variety of objects. Text, image, video, audio, and animation files can be attached to special objects. There are also decorative objects; here, some flowers are being moved around. Users can add a description or story, or label their object as a “hero” or “villain” as well.

Objects outside a certain range are hidden to minimize loading time. For example, there are two houses here, just out of range, that can’t be seen. This does make it harder to find things. Several clubhouse members suggested a map would make it easier to navigate.

Zora offers vast possibilities, not only to the users, but also to us as designers. The flexibility of the platform means the world can be designed to fit any need or particular area of research. Designing the world also allows us to ensure a positive environment. Our research is not only about what youth are doing with technology, but also on what they could do with other technologies that encourage positive youth development, community building, and learning. In Zora, they can do almost anything.

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