Blop

Nowadays children spend much more time indoor instead playing outside with friends and this problem was the foundation of this design project. The goal was to design a new outdoor game console, which invokes an outdoor game experience that is fun and appealing for children of the age 8-12, is more physicaly active than playing indoors and could be used in the existing neighbourhoods of the Netherlands. The end product is a handheld product named the ‘Blop’ and is a stick that communicates through a ring of LED light, sound and vibration. You can operate the stick with three buttons and a turning wheel for changing settings for example. The main operation of this device is however is done by making gestures with it. The home station of the Blop is a charger and a gate for connecting with friends through personal online profiles. While Blop is in its station, it checks if any friends are home. If they are, the Blop will light up and start making noises to let the user know that they can call them over VoIP, or summon to play through the Blop. Sold together with the blop will be an adventure game. First the children will adapt their avatar online. Once they start playing, they will have to move from home to home and complete several mini-challenges to reach the secret treasure.

Out

Linda Steenis
M.C. Dekker, A.H. Jellema, J.A. Ferwerda,
J.C. Van Uden, S. Versluis;
master thesis, May 2010