Prototype 3

The completed missile defence XML game has been uploaded, it lets the user select which keys they want to use and then loads the appropriate words for that users choice.

www.gz-compting.com/ELearning/V5

Move to XML

To improve the implementation of the missile defence game, i have decided to make it dynamic so it loads the word from a array dynamical. This all owes me to set an array and then the game load as many words as i like and they are used in the game.

To optimise this i have decided to load the information from XML documents so that it can be easily changed. To fill the XML files i have used the site http://homepage.ntlworld.com/adam.bozon/anagramsolver.htm. I have kept the XML's separate so that i can add additional words into it if required.

i have split the xml into simple formatting and different sections according to the size of the word. For the purpose of my demo i have decided to only add 30 words to each XML but this could be increased where required, and when there was not enough words i have added some random selections of letters:

Prototype 2

Improved Games

This game has the new layout system but is fixed to set letter order
http://www.gz-computing.com/ELearning/V2/

This version has both random and fixed versions which can be accessed from the start page
http://www.gz-computing.com/ELearning/V2.1/

New Game

The missile defence game has been implemented, at this point it only has 4 words and when they are compleat it goes back to the home page.

http://www.gz-computing.com/ELearning/V3/

Feedback

I have tested the basic game on some users and i got two main bits of feedback from them.

The first was with the key select pages people didn't like the fact that when you hovered over it showed you what it would change to, so in my new version i have removed this function and you need to click ok it to see the change in the image.

The second bit of feedback was that if you are using both hands it was not clear which hand you should be using which confused people. To solve this problem i have increased the amount of rows to 10 instead of the original 5, this has also meant that i have had to increase the size of the game.

With my new prototype i have also included a page to choice which game mode you want and a confirmation of key page where the user can link back to change any setting.

Existing Systems

There are almost no systems that exist on the web that actual teach the user how to touch type, the main systems that are on the web are used to improve the users speed. This is normally done by using a text based tutorial and then a test that gets them to type a sentence that they then get a speed at the end of the test.

Tutorial

One system that demonstrates this is at sense-lang.org where you put in a sentence of your choosing you are then asked to type it, if you hit the incorrect letter you are shown where the keys are on the keyboard that you should be pressing.
This system also gives the user a WPM score as they go along but does not give the user a total at the end so the user cant see there speed unless they stop typing and look at the speed they are going at.
http://sense-lang.org/typing/tutor/English.html

WPM calculator's

jonmiles

This is a system that i found that lets the user actual find out what there wpm score is by doing a 6 minute test and at each section of the test they are displayed there current wpm score and at the end they are given a total score and encouraged to go to a tutorial site to improve there score.
This system does not display multiple words so the user does no know the next word that is coming, and on its own there is no tutorial but is is a good way to find out the users score at the end.
http://www.jonmiles.co.uk/fingerjig.php

calculatorcat
This system lets the user see the sentence they are going to be typing before they type it, but does not give a score at the end unless you tell it to stop and the system lets you make some errors. This is the system i used for my test as it was shorter.
http://www.calculatorcat.com/typing_test/

Books

There are many books that can teach to touch type but they require the user to copy out lots of letter's which is not very interesting and my target audience would get bored after the first page as it is page on page of typing asdfg asdfg asdfg.
The book below is one of the more popular books and shows the hand positioning and has lots of test for the user to do but as young users my target audience would not get far before lousing interest unless they where forced to do it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Touch-Typing-Ten-Hours-Dobson/dp/1845283406/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236553380&sr=1-2

PC Games

The pc games all have lots of examples and let the user go at any speed, but there biggest downfall is that you need to be on a pc where you can install the system. Many of the systems on the market also have long lessons for each sections of the keyboard which your only option is to leave the game should you want to stop.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teaching-you-Touch-Typing-2-PC/dp/B000ODSZPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1236554314&sr=8-1

Prototype's

V1.0

As a first test to make shore that i am able to get the game to work.
In V1.0 i have produced the Keys game, it only uses the keys asdfg. There is a lot of work that needs to be done but it is an example of the system working.
V1.0:http://www.gz-computing.com/ELearning/V1/

V1.1

I have now applied the new look to the key selection section, this allows you to select the keys that apear in the game. This has both modes Oredered and Un-Ordered but only the Oredered vertion is running on the site at this moment.

V1.1:http://www.gz-computing.com/ELearning/V1.1/

Game Modes

All the Games will have the same Right banner with there avatar in it and the keys that are being used in the game.

Test

The test section of the game will not have as much information as the other games as it is aimed at testing the users ability to actual apply the informational.

The word the user is trying to type will be displayed in the main area of the game, with there timer and the next word displayed in the box below. This information will be displayed below so that the user has access to as much information as possible to help them get the best score. When a letter is hit correctly it will change color. When the game is completed the users stats will be displayed on the next page.

Keys

The ordered section will have the keys come down in the order that the hand hits them so ASDFG. When the key reaches the blue section of the screen the user will have to hit that key to remove the key and gain a point. Under the game will be a keyboard image which will highlight the correct finger to hit the next key with, this will help the user to learn which key they should be using to hit each key.

The un-ordered game will be very similar to the ordered game but instead of them cumming down in logical order they come down randomly to encourage the user to learn the keys not just there position, this will also have the keyboard at the bottom to show the user the correct finger to be using.

Word
The word game will have an additional banner to inform the user of how well they are currently doing with the game. The user will also have to complete all the words before they reach the city at the bottom of the level. The active word will be colored yellow and non active ones will be colored green, when a word is completed the asteroid containing the word will explode.

Key Select

One of the main parts of the Key Training and Word games is that the user can select which keys they are going to use. This will be the same on both games and will be done during the flash game. Here is the plan for how this will be done:

No keys selected
This is the screen the user will be displayed when they load the game up. All the keys are green so the user knows which keys they will be using in the game, also there are buttons for the user to select the keys they want to use. At the top of the page there is a nav so the user knows where they are, and a Next button which will proceed to the next section of the game.

Middle row selected

When the user selects a row or a hand then the keys will change meaning that the user can see which keys are going to be used, this will be updated as the user hovers over the buttons. Any row that the user selects the button will change color so it is clear which row they have selected.

Left Hand selected
When the user selects which hand to use then the highlighted keys on the keybord change, and the other hand is blered out so that the hand selected is made clear.

Confimation/Settings

This page is used to confirm that the user is happy with the keys that they have selected, it will also allow them to go back if they wish to change these settings. The nav on the top of the page will also change to show that the user has progressed allong the process. On this page the user will also have a WPM target which they can set and the Time they can set for the Keys game.

Delivery

For my delivery i will create a web site which lets the user log in to the site so that there profile information is all available from anywhere, There will also be the games which will all appear in a pop out box running the flash game.

Website

This site will have 2 main sections.
The first section will be used to display the users information as well as there avatar which they will be able to customize from hear. on this page there will also be two other main parts that show the user there information, one to show them which keys of the keyboard they have completed and which ones are not completed. The other part will show them there WPM score over time so the user can see how and if there score is improving.

The second section of the site will be the section which will be used to select which game type the user wants to play, Keys/Word/Test. This page will have a screen of each of the games and an intro into the game so that new users can find out some information about each of the games.

Games

There are going to be 3 main game types (Keys/Word/Test):

Keys

Key training will allow the user to learn the keys and there positioning, using a repetition learning method.

• Based on guitar hero type games
• User can set there time limit
• will only use keys which the user has selected
• keys will drop down at the users set WPM target
• The user will have to hit them when they reach a area at the bottom of the page
• Will have both ordered and un-ordered versions selectable at start

Word

The word game will take the users training and apply it to sequences of letters so that the user can learn how to go from key to key effectively, it will use words where available but some sections of the keyboard do not allow for full words to be used.

• Based on missile defence games
• will only use keys which the user has selected
• Words will appear at the users WPM target to start but will increase as the user completes a set amount of words
• The user will have to complete them before the word reaches the bottom of the page, if a word hits the bottom of the page the game will end and the last completed WPM level will be displayed
• When a user starts to type a word that word will change color and they will then have to complete the word before they can do another word
• If the user makes a mistake then there life will be decreased by 2, there life will come back by 1 for completing a word. if they run out of there 10 bits of life the game will end and there last completed wpm score will be displayed as there score

Test

The test will be used for a record of how well the user is progressing with there learning, This is where the information on the home page is generated.

• This will run for 2 minutes
• All the keyboard is used
• Words will appear on the screen which the user will have to complete the word
• Completed letters will change color
• At the end the users WPM will be displayed and this will go on there record

Avitar System

I want the user to have an in game character which will represent them while they are playing the game. This will also give me a platform to reward them on this will be done by limiting the users customisation for there character until they complete different parts of the training.

There are many existing avatar systems, which work both with just a cartoony look or the attempt to get it looking a lot like real people.

Exsisting Avitars

Two of the main 3rd gen games consoles use a avatar system in two very different ways:
The WII uses a cartoon character that acutely is involved in a lot of there game letting the user not only have it to represent themselves but also use there character to get involved in the game world.
The XBox360 has gone with a much more realistic character that is not actual used by many games. The character is displayed to any of your friends so is less funny looking as it is supposed to be a representation of yourself. Also they have started letting you unlock clothing using the avatar system the first being GTA4 DLC that lets you unlock new TShirts and Trousers.
There are also lots of online games that let you create your own avatar. Many also use a system that doesn't let you customise your aviator until you proceed a set part of the game, earning you money which you can then spend on clothes.

Minigolf Party xbox with clothing options but all have to be unlocked. http://apps.facebook.com/minigolfparty/?pf_ref=sb

XBox360 avatar real looking with lots of customization for the start. with some addons for compleating games

My System

My system is going to be like the flash games that let you customize when you have completed sections of the game. The xbox/wii aviats are very good systems but are also very complicated and it would be hard to create withing my platform.

I am going to let the user have basic customization to start with, They will only have one option for each type of clothing and a couple colors, When they complete the parts of the keyboard they will unlock new clothing designs, or new colors. This avitar will apear in there game but not be used as part of the game itself just there to encourage them to continue

Advantages of Touch Typing

I have carried out some testing to find out how much impact Touch Typing has on the users typing speed. To do this i have used an online speed testing site called http://www.calculatorcat.com/typing_test/.


This site lets the user find out at what speed they are typing, to get an accurate measure of how well the people i tested this on where doing i got them to do it 3 times. I then divided the group into 3 sections, People who can touch type, people who type a lot but not touch type, and people who don't touch type.


These are my results:

The number on the left is there WPM score. Red is for touch types, Green is for part touch types, and Blue is for non touch types.

This graph shoes that there is a clear difference in people typing speed depending on there ability. The Touch types had a much higher WPM score than any other people in my test. Even throw this is a small sample it clearly shows the difference between the two groups of touch types and non.

My Project

This is a good indication that my plan for getting the user to touch type will improve there speed. Even if they do not reach the same speed as those who touch type all the time, at least it would bring then up into the green area on this graph.

Product - Plan

Audience

My audience is going to be Teenagers/young adults (11-20). This is because this is the age group where most people start using computers for the majority of there work so would benefit form being able to touch type. This audience will already be capable of using the computer and keyboard and my system is designed not to teach them how to use it but improve there productivity when using it.

Technology

My system will be based online so that the user can access it in quickly at any point. There will be a home page where the user can see their information and stats. This will be where the chart showing the users WPM score will be displayed. As well as avatar options so that the user can change this as desired.
The games themselves will be flash games that run on the web browser. They will require the user to select the exercise they would like to use, Key/Word training then to select the keys that they would like to use for this exercise. This will be done using a two step process the first where the user selects which hand to use or both. The next step is to select which row of the keypad they want to lean then the game will run. The game will run for a pre set amount of time at the end of this time the user will be displayed with their WPM score for the game and what error rate they got and also what keys they had issue with so if the user keeps missing B it will inform them of this. They can then do some training on this section to improve their use of this key.

Rewards

To encourage the user to come back to the system and to encourage them too proceed on with the training, the system will reward them for completing parts of the game. This will be done using an avatar system which lets the user customise there experience.

So if the user does well and completes a level of there training then they will unlock new cloves or new colors of cloving for there avatar, there will also be rewards for reaching some targets of word scores, so when the user completes the test at 50WPM then they might unlock a new item of clothing or facial features.

Proposal

My proposal is to create a online learning aid that will help the user learn to Touch Type. If the user can touch type they will be able to type faster which will allow them to be more productive with there work, as if the user doesnt have to think about what they are typing then they can pay more attention to the work that they are doing.