StEMory
Project Type: MIT Media Lab Undergraduate Research
Role: Game Development, UX Research, UX Design, Prototyping
Team: 1 person in design, 4 people in the team
Duration: Oct 2023 - Present
Tools: Unity, C#, Figma
" Design a digital experience to facilitate social interaction among users "
Background
In the Fall 2023, I joined the MIT Media Lab to work on the design of a social interaction application to be implemented in a social robot.
Problem
How do we enhance social interactions among individuals, fostering new or deeper connections, all within the framework of an engaging gaming experience?
Overview
Solution
Introducing StEMory (Stimulation of Emotions through Memory)—a social interaction game designed to spark meaningful conversations. By selecting players to recall memories tied to images, StEMory fosters thought-provoking conversations beyond typical small talk. Through insightful responses and mutual feedback, they earn badges based on how well their stories foster connection, openness, or passion. Designed to break the ice and deepen relationships, StEMory transforms casual interactions into emotional and memorable experiences.
Design Process
Initial Design
My team and I explored several ideas for the application. Initially, we considered a fortune wheel design and incorporated scores to gamify the social interaction. However, I suggested that this would introduce unnecessary competition, which would be counterproductive to the app’s purpose of fostering meaningful connections. I was also concerned that if someone shared a deeply personal answer and it was rated with a score, that player might feel discouraged to engage at the same level of vulnerability in the future. Additionally, we initially envisioned multiple categories, such as pictures, sounds, shapes, dates, and art. For the first round of user studies, however, we chose to focus exclusively on the picture category to gather more focused insights.
Key Features
To address the issues with the initial design and better align with the goals of our application, we developed the following features.
Instructions
Previously, the instructions were a separate PDF file, requiring users to read a manual before starting the game. This created an unnecessary step and disrupted the flow of the experience. To streamline this, I integrated the instructions directly into the game, providing guidance to both the host and players on how to play. This ensures a smoother, more intuitive experience and helps users easily understand the game without any delays or confusion.
The host creates a room for others to join via a code or by inputting names for local play, ensuring flexibility for both remote and in-person play.
Automatic Turn Assignment
We opted for a card design instead of the fortune wheel because it provides a more intuitive and straightforward experience.
The game automatically assigns turns, with the host controlling the flow by shuffling cards. A player is shown an image that prompts emotional or memory-sharing. If a card doesn’t resonate, they can reshuffle. This flexibility fosters a comfortable, open environment for sharing.
Emotional Sharing Prompts
Each card features an image that prompts the active player with questions to encourage self-disclosure based on emotions or memories.
Verbal Interaction & Feedback
Players share thoughts verbally while others listen and provide feedback, fostering a sense of engagement and ensuring that everyone feels heard and involved.
Collaborative Badge Selection
After sharing, the group selects a badge (connection, passion, or disclosure) to acknowledge the emotional depth of the narrative.
Badge Types
🧑🤝🧑 Connection badge if their answer fostered connection.
❤️🔥 Passion badge if the response inspired enthusiasm.
🔒❤️ Disclosure badge if the player revealed deep personal feelings.
Visuals
I designed the Jibo (social robot), along with cards, instructions, and badge illustrations (not all the Jibo illustrations are currently used). The fonts and overall atmosphere of the application are playful and inviting, creating a friendly user experience for users to feel welcomed to share their personal stories tied to different emotions.
Jibo
Characters in Instructions
User Studies
Participants
We recruited 18 participants (mean age 23) from seven diverse groups for a 40-50 minute group game study. They completed a pre-survey on their willingness to self-disclose, played the game, and then filled out a post-survey.
Survey Insights
🧑🤝🧑 Interpersonal Closeness:
Participants reported increased closeness with their group, with scores rising from 5.29 to 5.58 after the game, signaling stronger bonds.
🔒❤️ Self-Disclosure of Emotions:
Players became more open about emotions like fear and anxiety. Fear disclosure significantly increased (p < 0.05), while anxiety also saw a slight upward trend. Other emotions (happiness, jealousy, anger) showed no significant change.
🙌🗣️ Sharing Personal Experiences:
Players were more willing to share personal stories, especially related to strengths and proud moments. Personal strengths disclosure saw a significant increase (p < 0.05), while there was a slight uptick in sharing life-changing experiences (p = 0.06). Topics like family, friends, and romantic relationships saw minimal change.
Thematic Analysis
🧑🤝🧑 Fostering Friendship and Connection:
The game encouraged emotional intimacy and vulnerability, promoting deeper connections through shared personal stories. It helped participants overcome stereotypes and build stronger friendships.
🔒❤️ Comfort with Self-Disclosure:
The game’s structure and the use of imagery helped ease participants into sharing. Though some hesitated at first, the supportive environment fostered by the game led to greater openness and emotional sharing.
Reflection
Next Iteration
The development and research of StEMory is still in progress. We are planning to integrate Jibo, a social robot, in the next iteration. Come back for updates!
