Gamification, Playfulness, and Ludicity in Intelligent Environments

Dear Colleagues,

Gamification is a method that integrates game elements and mechanics into non-game applications, systems, and services, to better motivate and engage users. Use of playfulness, the revealing of humor and the display of ludic aspects is—as in all human endeavors—a way to release stress and engage further, in time and effort put in any encounter, and that includes interactions with systems and applications.

New types of interactions are emerging that combine methods and techniques for developing playful elements with the potential of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) paradigm to directly link actions, decisions and events happening in real-life with in-game educational progress and modern gaming technologies. For example, new approaches are explored regarding how to take advantage of gamification mechanisms to empower citizen's behavioral change to achieve greater energy efficiency. New prototypes are emerging that build upon open gaming technologies and mechanisms in order to inspire eco-friendly driving styles and turning eco-driving into an immersive and highly motivating experience. 

Gamification is a known way to address interaction challenges, and that applies also to Intelligent Environments and IoT applications. To describe and to design interaction modalities that are more pleasant, enjoyable and intriguing through these qualities enhance the system and its use. Gamification and playfulness are approaches that might help to identify risks connected with IoT environments (such as privacy for example, among others). Some of the research questions that we wish to address are: whether such approaches challenge underlying assumptions on IoT of systems? Which are the prevailing assumptions that can be challenged by gamification approaches? Can gamification be used as a way to address unforeseen system requirements? Can we leverage on gamification/playful aspects of IoT systems/services/applications in order to encourage adoption, adaptation, and appropriation of IoT systems?

In this Special Issue, we wish to bring together different perspectives on the topic of combining gamification, playfulness, and ludicity in the development of intelligent environments and challenge mainstream assumptions and design approaches. We look into the feasibility and the performance of applying gamification paradigms in designing human-centered intelligent environments and applications in order to strengthen active participation. 

We invite authors to submit papers reporting original, previously unpublished research, which addresses this challenging area of research. We are open to papers addressing a broad range of topics, from foundational topics regarding the design principles of gamification elements, and novel design principles for building intelligent environments that combines gaming aspects, playfulness and ludicity; to papers presenting advanced frameworks and technological platforms for developing real-world environments; to pilots reporting innovative approaches for reinforcing and supporting human engagement.

Prof. Ioannis Chatzigiannakis
Prof. Irene Mavrommati
Prof. Panos Markopoulos
Guest Editors

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