Interactive Media Lands Big Grant

From the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

A University of Southern California research effort co-lead by Marientina
Gotsis of the Interactive Media Division has received a $200,000 grant from
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to explore how interactive digital
games could be designed to improve players' health behaviors and outcomes.

Developed by the School of Cinematic Arts, the Keck School of Medicine and
the USC School of Social Work, Wellness Partners is a cell phone game that
harnesses social networks to combat obesity.  In creating the application,
the team will probe the effectiveness of mobile games and online social
networks to promote lifestyle changes that result in greater physical
activity.  

"This unique interdisciplinary collaboration is teaching us how to
combine elements and theories of cooperative play, social support and
social networks into an engaging game that can help families and friends in
their quests for better health," said Gotsis, who is the IMD Media Lab
manager and the co-principal investigator of the effort. 

Working with clients from the USC Center for Work and Family Life, the game will
use elements from virtual pets, role-playing games (RPGs), and social networking
tools that will motivate players to exercise and improve their health.

For more information go to http://cinema.usc.edu/about/news/wellness-partner-game.htm

Associated Person:

Marientina Gotsis