This document discusses the challenges and opportunities posed by emerging technologies in the 21st century, focusing on serious games and immersive technologies. It notes that while these technologies provide unprecedented growth, they also pose sustainability challenges if not properly harnessed. Immersive technologies like games, virtual worlds and social networks are commercially significant as they engage users and influence society. When designed well with user needs and emotions in mind, these technologies can enhance lives, relationships and provide access to global knowledge through rich, engaging experiences. Harnessing their full potential will require making them attractive, accessible, affordable and relevant to users.

1. Serious Games and Immersive Technologies21st Century Challenges and Opportunities Malaysia Serious Gaming Forum Kuala Lumpur David Wortley FRSA

2. The 21st century is an unprecedented period in human history full of new challenges and opportunities created by low cost on demand and ubiquitous access to both global knowledge and powerful publishing toolsWe are in largely uncharted waters and technologies which engage, influence, educate and above all create and sustain relationships will be critical

3. Structure Good News and Bad News Disintermediation and the Prosumer Revolution Immersive Technologies, Smart Growth and Regional Innovation Thoughts to Ponder

4. Good News !! Growth, enterprise and innovation are virtually guaranteed in the global information society We are living in an age of unprecedented opportunity and choice Our global society is the most connected in the history of mankind Machine intelligence is helping us to fulfil our human potential in all aspects of our lives.

5. Bad News !! The disruptive technologies of the 21st century pose an unprecedented challenge to our sustainability Our global society is the most disconnected in mankind’s history We are transferring all our intelligence and capabilities into machines that we will totally depend on Like nuclear energy, the internet has the potential to be harnessed to liberate humanity or destroy it

6. Disintermediation and the Prosumer Revolution

7. Disruptive Communications Technologies

8. Disruptive Communications Technologies The internet is different in its scope and impact on businessand society to any previous disruptive technology

9. Disintermediation The breakdown in the traditional hierarchical structures of society poses unprecedented challenges

10. The Prosumer The prosumer effect is unique in our history

11. The Prosumer Phenomenon People with passion empowered by technology to acquire and share knowledge

12. The Attention Economy Capturing and retaining attention and loyalty are critical in today’s digital media society

13. Reshaping Society Using technology to create and maintain relationships based on mutual interdependence is critical

14. Necessary Skills We have got to develop different human skills, attitudes and behaviours that foster collaboration across multiple disciplines

15. Common Language ? Experts speak in different languages

16. 21st Century Knowledge Professional Connects, coaches, facilitates and mentors

17. Immersive Technologies, Smart Growth and Innovation

18. Immersive Technologies Games Virtual Worlds Social Networks Immersive Technologies are commercially very significant because they engage our discretionary time, attention and money – they educate, inform and influence society

20. Support exploration

21. Risk-free environment

22. Help our understanding

23. Engage our interest

24. Make inaccessible accessible

25. Build relationships

26. Bridge to Physical WorldExploration & Discovery

27. Some Statistics Games industry is bigger than movie and music industry 180 million active gamers in the USA playing on average 13 hours per week China 200m, India 105m, Europe 100m, Russia 10m One million people played Red Redemption’s Climate Change Game 100k people played Floodsim in first 6 weeks World Crisis games are very popular e.g. World without Oil, Evoke, Lost Joules, Innocentive (crowd sourcing)

28. Supporting Exploration Applications which help us to explore and discover

29. Risk Free Environment Simulations reduce both cost and risk

30. Help our Understanding Immersive visualisations help us understand and manage our environment

31. Engage our Interest Make Boring Issues more relevant and interesting

32. Building Bridges “My SGI” Linking the physical and virtual environments

33. Visualising Data Visualise data in richer and easy to understand ways

34. Ticking all the Boxes Immersive Technologies have not only created huge market potential but have driven innovations across all sectors

35. Innovation Happens Across Boundaries 3D rendering, image processing, broadband speed, collaboration tools, networking, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition are all driven by Immersive Technology applications

36. Immersive Applications driven by Human Needs and Emotions Enhancing our lives, our world andour relationships – giving us access to a global network – building personalised relationship with our technologies

37. Expectations Generation Y citizens expect high levels of engagement

38. Expectations Stakeholders expect value for money and modest costs

39. Thoughts to Ponder

40. The Secrets of Harnessing a New Communications Technology Attractiveness Accessibility Affordability Does it interest/excite me ? Is it easy to access ? Can I afford the time, attention and money ?

41. What are the Key Features ? Personalisation / relevance Interface and Ubiquity Cost in time and money Ability to control / shape Richness of experience Challenge / motivation Intrinsic and extrinsic rewards

42. Reality is Broken Gamers have been mastering the art of planet craft for years through “God” games. Designers of online games – and those who play them –have a head start on this mission. Gaming is “a twenty-first-century way of thinking and leading and of working together to accomplish real change” The great challenge for us today, and for the remainder of the century, is to integrate games more closely into our everyday lives, and to embrace them as a platform for collaborating on our most important planetary efforts. Jane McGonigal

43. Questions