Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone Xbox One, Discover Languages
Rosetta Stone asked us to help them create and launch a new language application on the Xbox One game console, with the goal to connect with language learners on an emotional level by changing the relationship between users and content. Users would interact with the content from a first person point of view rather than third person, enabling a more engaging and dynamic experience.
The resulting application won Silver Medal at the "Serious Play Awards," awarded to games that deliver high quality engagement and measurable learning opportunities.
The resulting application won Silver Medal at the "Serious Play Awards," awarded to games that deliver high quality engagement and measurable learning opportunities.
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Challenges
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• Breaking the sense of immersion and disrupting user's "normal" interaction
• Adhering to the interactions and guidelines outlined in the Xbox One Media Apps Design Guide |
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Strategic Solutions
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• Motivate users by making it fun, engaging them directly in the narrative, and making them feel that the story is their story
• Immerse users in virtual environments where they are always at the center of the action, allowing them to discover and explore interesting locations and interact with a variety of characters and objects in their new language |
Creative Vision
Familiar
The app should be instantly recognizable as part of the Rosetta Stone brand. The design strengthens the brand rather than fragmenting it. The visual and interaction design also harmonizes with the Xbox One platform, reinforcing the sense that the app belongs there. There is plenty of room to surprise and delight the viewer.
Engaging
The app will not stand in the way of users’ language exploration. The story helps users develop themselves and experience a new culture through various interactions. The dialogue activities help users connect to the culture and other people.
Scalable
From a content perspective, the app will be built to allow ongoing scalability with user-generated content to premium, fee-based content. SmartGlass also offers an extension to the 10 foot experience by enhancing the group interactions with a second screen.
The app should be instantly recognizable as part of the Rosetta Stone brand. The design strengthens the brand rather than fragmenting it. The visual and interaction design also harmonizes with the Xbox One platform, reinforcing the sense that the app belongs there. There is plenty of room to surprise and delight the viewer.
Engaging
The app will not stand in the way of users’ language exploration. The story helps users develop themselves and experience a new culture through various interactions. The dialogue activities help users connect to the culture and other people.
Scalable
From a content perspective, the app will be built to allow ongoing scalability with user-generated content to premium, fee-based content. SmartGlass also offers an extension to the 10 foot experience by enhancing the group interactions with a second screen.
From the beginning, users are immersed in the new language and the surrounding world.
Each environment, with unique visuals and sounds, introduces a new activity where the users will explore, discover and learn.
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Get deeper.
As users progress, new environments are revealed in increasing complexity.
Users can take turns interacting with each activity.
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Speak confidently and use idiomatic phrases.
The users are prompted to speak in the video dialogue as part of the scenario.
At the end of each phrase, users will see which words they have pronounced well and which ones they have pronounced poorly.
The speech recognition technology listens closely to every syllable giving users immediate feedback on their pronunciation.
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Research &Discovery
To build a meaningful experience, we began by familiarizing ourselves with the Rosetta Stone apps, performing research methods: personas, workflows and understanding the pedagogical highlights in order to provide an opportunity to structure conversations.
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UX Prototype
Xbox solution
The primary experience is the Discovery Center (aka adventure mode). The learner navigates through simple environments, looks at objects (vocabulary), and interacts with characters through conversation exercises. The learner can track their progress through the different locations and try to find and complete everything. After conversations in the Discovery Center, the system suggests certain Training Zone activities based on the learner's performance. Learners can access Study Hall (grammar topics) and Mini-Games. These provide additional resources for the user to fill in gaps in their understanding and practice what they have learned.
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