Waste Race

Project Info

Team Name

Trash Racers

Team Members

Thisura and 1 other member with an unpublished profile.

Project Description

WasteRace

A digital car game for kids effectively combining entertainment with waste management.

20.08.2023

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Project team members:

Thisura Senarath
Devashri Samani

Executive Summary

The WasteRace is a digital car game designed to captivate children aged 6 to 12 in Australia, effectively combining entertainment with education. The game leverages the intrinsic appeal of interactive gameplay to create a learning experience that resonates with the target audience. By assigning different waste types to red, yellow, and green bins – corresponding to non-recyclable, recyclable, and organic waste respectively – players are incentivized to dispose of trash items correctly to earn speed points, propelling players towards their primary goal: driving the car to the recycling site by entering their preferred pincode, fueled by accumulated speed points, all within a time limit.

Data Story

By leveraging the comprehensive dataset provided by the Queensland Government’s: "Public Waste and Recycling Facilities in Queensland," we seamlessly integrate this dataset into our game. Through the latitude and longitude mentioned in the CSV file, we enable users to access and locate the nearest recycling facilities directly within the gameplay environment.

Project Goals

Waste management is a critical environmental concern, and fostering a sense of responsibility and knowledge about proper waste disposal practices among children is essential for building a sustainable future. In Australia, the need to educate children about waste management practices has become increasingly important due to the growing waste generation and environmental impact. The association of the "WasteRace" game with children and the underlying thought process reflect a strategic approach to combining education, engagement, and environmental awareness within a target audience. Here's an overview of how this connection was established and the rationale behind it:

Audience-Centric Design

The decision to target children as the primary audience for the "WasteRace" game was grounded in the recognition that early education plays a pivotal role in shaping long-term behaviors and attitudes. Children are more receptive to learning through interactive and playful experiences, making games an ideal medium for imparting knowledge in an engaging manner. By focusing on children, the project aims to instill responsible waste management practices from an early age, fostering a generation that values sustainability and practices proper waste disposal throughout their lives.

Engagement and Gamification:

Children are naturally drawn to games and interactive experiences. By integrating educational content into a game format, "WasteRace" harnesses this innate curiosity and enthusiasm, ensuring that children actively participate in the learning process. Gamification, in which players are rewarded for correct actions, creates a positive feedback loop that encourages consistent engagement and the development of good waste management habits. The competitive element inherent in games adds an extra layer of motivation, encouraging players to learn while having fun.

Forming Lifelong Habits:

Children are impressionable and more likely to internalize behaviors and attitudes that they are exposed to during their formative years. By introducing waste management education at a young age, the project aims to engrain responsible waste disposal practices as habits that children carry into adulthood. This aligns with the broader goal of creating a generation that actively contributes to waste reduction and environmental preservation.

Cultural and Environmental Relevance:

The thought process behind associating the game with children also considers the cultural and environmental context of Australia. By catering the game's content to local waste management practices and environmental concerns, the project ensures that the learning experience is relevant and relatable. Children are encouraged to see the direct impact of their choices on their immediate surroundings, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Future Considerations

The game further has the potential to incorporate educational facts for the user. This would include incorporating additional learning modules or mini-games that delve deeper into waste management concepts, recycling processes, and environmental impact can provide a comprehensive educational experience while maintaining engagement. Moreover, this game could also be enhanced by updating it with challenges, levels, waste disposal scenarios, and educational content. Lastly, Implementing a progress tracking system that records a player's waste management achievements and improvements over time can motivate players to continue practicing responsible waste disposal habits.