#mda framework example

[microlearningplatform]

DDE Framework for Training: The Next Big Thing in Learning Innovation

The DDE Framework for Game Design in Microlearning: Enhancing Engagement and Retention

In today's fast-paced digital world, traditional learning methods often fail to capture the attention of modern learners. Organizations are turning to microlearning, a bite-sized, highly focused learning approach that delivers knowledge in short, engaging formats. However, making microlearning effective requires more than just breaking content into smaller chunks—it must be engaging, interactive, and immersive. This is where the DDE Framework (Design, Develop, Evaluate) comes into play.

The DDE Framework for Game Design in Microlearning provides a structured approach to integrating gamification into learning experiences, making training more engaging and effective. This article explores the DDE Framework, its components, and how it enhances microlearning to drive better learning outcomes.

What is the DDE Framework?

The DDE Framework stands for:

Design – Conceptualizing the learning experience and setting clear learning objectives.

Develop – Creating the microlearning content with interactive and gamified elements.

Evaluate – Measuring the effectiveness of the learning experience and making improvements.

By following this framework, organizations can ensure that their microlearning strategy is engaging, interactive, and results-driven.

Phase 1: Design – Laying the Foundation for Engaging Learning

The Design phase is the most critical step in the DDE Framework. This is where learning objectives are established, and the foundation for game-based learning elements is set.

Key Elements of the Design Phase:

Identifying Learning Goals

What should learners achieve by the end of the module?

How does this learning align with business objectives?

Understanding the Audience

What are the learners' preferences, skill levels, and challenges?

What motivates them to engage in training?

Choosing Gamification Elements

Will the microlearning module include badges, leaderboards, points, or interactive challenges?

How can storytelling be used to create an immersive learning journey?

Defining the User Experience (UX)

How will learners interact with the content?

What kind of visual design will keep them engaged?

Example in Action:

A sales training module using the DDE Framework might include story-based simulations where learners play the role of a salesperson navigating customer interactions. Each correct decision earns points and unlocks new levels, making learning more engaging.

Phase 2: Develop – Creating Interactive and Engaging Microlearning Content

Once the design phase is complete, it’s time to develop the learning content. This phase focuses on bringing the learning experience to life through gamification, interactivity, and adaptive learning techniques.

Key Strategies in the Develop Phase:

Use of Microlearning Modules

Breaking content into short, engaging lessons (3-5 minutes each).

Ensuring each module focuses on a single learning objective.

Incorporating Gamification Mechanics

Rewards and Points – Encouraging learners to complete challenges.

Leaderboards – Fostering friendly competition.

Story-Based Scenarios – Creating a sense of immersion.

Adaptive Learning for Personalization

AI-driven personalization to adjust content based on learner progress.

Offering different difficulty levels based on prior performance.

Interactive Learning Elements

Using quizzes, drag-and-drop activities, and scenario-based decision-making.

Implementing real-time feedback to enhance learning retention.

Example in Action:

A customer service training program might include an interactive role-playing simulation, where learners respond to different customer queries. Each response earns points, and feedback is provided instantly to reinforce correct behaviors.

Phase 3: Evaluate – Measuring Success and Improving Learning Outcomes

The final phase of the DDE Framework is Evaluate, where organizations measure the effectiveness of their game-based microlearning strategy. This step ensures continuous improvement and better engagement over time.

Key Metrics for Evaluation:

Learner Engagement Rates

Are learners completing the modules?

How often are they logging in to the platform?

Knowledge Retention & Assessment Performance

Comparing pre-training and post-training assessments.

Using spaced repetition to reinforce learning.

Behavioral Changes & Application of Knowledge

Are learners applying their knowledge in real-world scenarios?

Conducting follow-up assessments to measure impact.

Learner Feedback and Experience

Gathering feedback through surveys and interactive polls.

Using AI-driven analytics to track learning patterns.

Example in Action:

A retail company implementing game-based microlearning for product training may track sales performance before and after training to assess the effectiveness of the learning program.

Why the DDE Framework is a Game-Changer for Microlearning

The DDE Framework helps organizations move beyond traditional, passive learning methods and embrace interactive, gamified learning experiences that drive engagement and retention. Here’s why it’s a game-changer:

Boosts Engagement with Game Mechanics

Elements like points, rewards, and challenges make learning enjoyable.

Encourages Continuous Learning

Short, digestible learning modules help employees learn without disrupting their workflow.

Improves Knowledge Retention

Spaced repetition and interactive assessments reinforce learning.

Enables Personalized Learning Experiences

AI-driven adaptability ensures learners receive customized training.

Provides Data-Driven Insights for Improvement

Tracking engagement and performance helps optimize training strategies.

Final Thoughts: Transform Your Learning Strategy with the DDE Framework

The DDE Framework for Game Design in Microlearning offers a structured approach to creating engaging, effective, and results-driven learning experiences. By focusing on Design, Develop, and Evaluate, organizations can transform dull training programs into dynamic, game-based learning experiences that improve knowledge retention, performance, and engagement.

Are you ready to enhance your microlearning strategy with the DDE Framework? Explore how MaxLearn can help you design game-based learning experiences that captivate learners and drive real results. 🚀

[fioras-resolve]

"Games mean via their dynamics."

It's a sentence I've heard a few times from different people. These are professional game designers, who have thought a lot about this art form. I think a lot about this art form too, which is why I seek out every talk, interview, and book I can find on the topic. And these people are trying to find the answer to "How do games create meaning?"

"Games mean via their dynamics."

This is a reference to the MDA framework, which stands for Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics. It was some game scholars' attempts in the mid-2000s to put a science to the art of game design. In this framework Mechanics, which are the rules and logic behind the game, create Dynamics, all the interactions and behaviors that happen at runtime. These then create Aesthetics, the underlying feelings of the game, the reasons why we play it. As an example, a shooter having a low ammo count (Mechanic) forces you to conserve your ammo, (Dynamic) which leads to an atmosphere of tension and caution. (Aesthetic) Designers are trying to achieve specific aesthetics, but only have direct control over the mechanics. That middle layer makes all the difference, and that can be frustrating.

"Games mean via their dynamics."

This is an interesting thing for me, as a burgeoning game designer. I like to think that stories, characters, and themes can be conveyed through mechanics. A lot of my work on games like Fiora was done with this exact mindset. But what this sentence means is that I can create all the mechanics I want, deciding for myself what they mean, but all of that intent vanishes as soon as it gets in the hands of a player. And that terrifies me.

Games mean via their dynamics.

If a designer puts a mechanic into a game, and it creates no dynamics, does the mechanic mean anything? I think about this a lot when looking back on Fiora: Full Bloom, possibly my most well-known title. It's a turn-based RPG, made using the vestigial functions of an engine designed for walking simulators. It has a lot of clever ideas, and I'd recommend you play it to see them, but relevant to our conversation is this: The stats and formulas underlying Fiora's combat are deliberately obfuscated. It shows you attributes like Power and Resilience, but they don't mean what you think they mean, and it's on you to interpret their functions. I actually included a stat, called Logic, which does nothing. Literally nothing, it does not matter whether you raise or lower it. This was meant as a "checkmate, atheists" kind of burn, as logic alone cannot get one out of an emotional spiral. But crucially, in early versions at least, I didn't *tell* anybody that Logic was a useless stat. I wanted people to come to their own conclusions, hopefully realizing naturally that Logic doesn't do anything, and questioning what that means. I wanted players to create their own understanding of the mechanics, to have Fiora be a canvas of interpretation. But...

Games mean via their dynamics.

Ultimately, the open interpretation canvas didn't work. I'm sure for some people it did, but most players ended up confused, nonplussed, or just checking the guide I wrote. The game hid its true colors too well, and most people only connected with its message *after* checking the guide. The game was just better when it was explicit, and it was more meaningful once players understood the mechanics. A mechanic inert, standing in the code, means nothing unless the player experiences it.

A mechanic on its own cannot create an aesthetic, there *must* be a dynamic.

I'm working right now on a party game about pirates and capitalism, getting extremely antsy waiting for the first playtest. I have all these high-minded ideas of what the game is about, but ultimately the players are the ones who decide what the game is. In his talk, "Dynamics: The State of the Art," Clint Hocking argues that a multiplayer game like Go, Badminton, or Street Fighter might not mean much innately, but an individual session can be loaded with meaning. Go isn't "about" a conflict between traditionalism and progressivism, but Shūsai vs Kitani was. Two kids playing Badminton in the backyard might not be particularly rigorous, but a game between Djokovic and Federer can influence a nation's view of its own national identity. A fight in Street Fighter isn't really about Ryu vs Ken, but about two players with different ideas of what the game is about, fighting to see who's wins. By this framing, a game means something different each session. The mechanics just give players the tools to create meaning of their own.

Games mean via their dynamics.

This is death of the author, only so much worse. At least in a book, the words are the same. Each word might mean different things to different people, but we can still have a consistent idea of what a sentence, in the abstract, "means." A movie may be interpreted in countless ways, but it's still the same shots, the same cuts, the same directorial decisions. It's still the same story, you know? But when you make a game, each player will have a different story, even in a largely linear affair. Your playthrough of Pokemon Legends: Arceus will not be the same as mine, it will have different characters, different challenges, different arcs. Your player character may have been a trainer or a surveyor, but mine was a hunter. And that was achieved through my personal interaction with the game's mechanics.

It was achieved through the dynamics.

This is *why* Roger Ebert said that games could never be art! Creative control isn't strict enough, the creator doesn't get to decide what the game is about, they don't even decide what it *is!* But he said that over a decade ago, and he's dead now, so who really cares anymore? Well, I do. Not because I'm insecure about the legitimacy of games as an art form, but because I worry that my game's meaning is out of my control. I can say that my game is a critique of capitalism, but is it really? Will people really come out of this game liking capitalism less? Or will I fall into the Monopoly trap of making capitalism fun? It's not about what I personally want, because like,

Games mean via their dynamics!

In the 2010s the popular conception of games was that they are "empathy machines," letting you understand someone's situation in a way only games can allow. This was a big part of the conversation surrounding games like Depression Quest, Dys4ia, and Cart Life. But is that what they're trying to be, and are they successful? In his talk, "You Have No Idea How Hard It Is to Run a Sweatshop," Soren Johnson talks about the ways games have tried and failed to create empathy in audiences. A game that put you in the role of a poor person made players think the poor just need to ration their money better. A game that made you a sweatshop manager to show how increasing quotas make you sell more of your soul ended up creating more empathy for the managers than the workers. All of the mechanics were in place to make a pointed message about the state of our world, but when put in the hands of players they sent the exact opposite message.

Games mean via their dynamics.

This is all very high-minded and academic, from someone who cares about this stuff a lot. But maybe it's overthinking things a little? Like, both Hocking and Johnson say that games are about their dynamics, and not their cutscene narrative. But does it have to be an either-or? While people who don't give a shit about mechanics and play games for the traditional stories are enjoying games in a very different way than I tend to, I wouldn't say they're enjoying games Wrong. I think game literacy requires an understanding of how gameplay creates meaning, but that doesn't mean games have to be "pure" in their ludic narrative. I think back to Ian Danskin's video about Bastion, where he points out that there is no pure storytelling medium, and that all stories bastardize the medium they're told in. But every medium gives a unique method for telling stories, that we shouldn't dismiss just because they're not "pure" forms of the medium. Games mean via their dynamics, and they mean via many other things too, and that array of possibilities is what gives games their character. So just, make games, you know?

I wrote most of that last night, and now today's the day of my playtest. I think I'll be okay with whatever happens. Whatever dynamics the game creates will help guide my development in the coming weeks. I can't control the dynamics, and that's the beautiful thing about them. But I can create the right conditions for fun, entertaining, and thought-provoking dynamics. The designer of a playground can't control how the kids play, but they can influence it by giving them the means to make their own fun. Playgrounds are an art. And I encourage you, if you've gotten this far, to think harder about the meaning created by the games you play. Not just by the dialogue, or the cutscenes, or the "story" as it were, but by the moment-to-moment interactions in the game's dynamics. Think about what the game does to you, and what kind of person it makes you. Because I love this medium, and I hope I've made you love it just a little bit more.

[sreenivasanchambers]

Singapore's Drug Laws: A Tightrope Walk Between Justice and Severity

Singapore, known for its strict laws and low crime rates, takes an uncompromising stance on drug offenses. The nation's zero-tolerance policy, coupled with its robust legal framework, means that those found guilty of drug-related crimes face significant consequences, ranging from substantial fines to lengthy imprisonment and even the death penalty. Understanding the complexities of drug offenses, the potential defenses available, and the severity of possible penalties is crucial for anyone facing such charges.

The Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA), Singapore's primary legislation governing drug offenses, categorizes drugs based on their perceived harmfulness. This categorization directly influences the severity of the offense and the corresponding penalties. While possession of small amounts of certain drugs might result in fines and/or short prison sentences, trafficking larger quantities can attract the death penalty. Navigating this intricate legal landscape requires expert guidance, which is where Criminal Defence Singapore lawyers play a vital role. They are trained to defend individuals facing drug charges, ensuring their rights are protected and that they receive the best possible legal outcome.

Defending Against Drug Charges: A Complex Labyrinth of Legal Options

Successfully defending against drug charges often involves exploring various legal defenses. Criminal Defence Singapore lawyers meticulously examine the case facts and apply relevant legal principles to identify potential arguments. Key defenses include:

Lack of Mens Rea (Criminal Intent): Proving that the accused did not intentionally possess or traffic the illegal substance is a critical defense. This often involves demonstrating that they were unaware of the drugs' presence, or that they believed the substance to be something else entirely. For instance, a person unknowingly carrying a bag containing drugs might have a strong argument against intent.

Duress: This defense relies on establishing that the accused was forced to commit the offense due to threats against their safety or the safety of others. It requires proving the existence of a genuine threat and that the accused had no reasonable alternative but to comply. For example, someone forced to transport drugs under threat of violence might use duress as a defense.

Entrapment: This defense hinges on demonstrating that the police induced the accused to commit the offense. The accused must show they were not predisposed to committing the crime and that the police actively encouraged them to engage in the illegal activity. For instance, if an undercover officer repeatedly pressured an individual to buy drugs, this might constitute entrapment.

Insanity: In rare circumstances, an individual might argue that they were insane at the time of the offense. This defense requires expert psychiatric evidence proving that the accused lacked the mental capacity to understand the nature of their actions or to know that they were wrong.

White Collar Defence: Where Drug Offenses Meet Business

Drug offenses can sometimes intersect with White Collar Defence matters. Imagine a scenario where a business executive is found in possession of drugs at their workplace. This situation could trigger both criminal charges and internal investigations within the company. White Collar Defence lawyers specialize in handling such complex scenarios, offering comprehensive legal counsel and strategic defense strategies. They navigate the intersection of criminal law, business regulations, and corporate compliance to safeguard the interests of their clients.

Jason Lim, a respected Criminal Defence Singapore lawyer, emphasizes the importance of seeking legal advice promptly when facing drug charges. "Early intervention can make a significant difference," he advises. "Understanding the intricacies of drug laws and the potential defenses is crucial. Seeking counsel from experienced professionals can significantly impact the outcome of a case."

The Weight of Penalties: A Spectrum of Severity

The penalties for drug offenses in Singapore are determined by a multitude of factors, including the type of drug, its quantity, the individual's criminal history, and the circumstances of the offense. The MDA clearly outlines the penalties for different offenses.

Possession: The penalties for possession range from fines to imprisonment, depending on the type and quantity of drugs. For example, possession of cannabis can result in fines of up to S$20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Trafficking: Trafficking offenses carry significantly heavier penalties, including mandatory imprisonment and hefty fines. The severity of the penalties increases with the quantity of drugs involved. Trafficking large quantities of certain drugs can lead to the death penalty.

Cultivation: Cultivating drugs is strictly prohibited and carries severe penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines. The penalties for cultivating cannabis can reach up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of S$20,000.

Facing drug charges in Singapore is a daunting experience. The legal system is complex, and the penalties are substantial. Seeking legal representation from a specialist Criminal Defence Singapore lawyer is crucial. Sreenivasan Chambers LLC stands as a reputable firm known for its expertise in this field. Their team of experienced lawyers possesses the knowledge, skills, and dedication to navigate the complexities of drug offenses, providing robust legal representation, strategic defense strategies, and insightful guidance throughout the entire legal process. Remember, timely legal intervention and expert legal counsel can make a significant difference in these sensitive cases.

[jeremy-ken-anderson]

Design Theory: FFXV

For a class I’m taking, I’ve been asked to perform a thought experiment. At first I did this with XIV, but once we got into the “make improvements” section I decided I’d have an easier and also more satisfying time pondering a game that isn’t quite so critically acclaimed.

And I decided I’d rather blog it out than write it on notepad paper.

So. FFXV. One Final Fantasy With the Lads.

The MDA Framework - Mechanics, Dynamics, Affect (Aesthetics is the original A here, but for a game dev class we’re broadening it to include more things that evoke emotional responses) - translates into Mechanics being the rules, Dynamics being the play experience itself, and hopefully the play experience then produces an Affect of “fun.”

An example I’ve touched on before, where Mechanics produce Affect by way of Dynamics: In FFXV they have a very clean sense of being Injured. If you get down to 0 hp, your recoverable hp starts bleeding out. Get first aid or a potion and you stop bleeding out and recover some. But your “current max hp” remains lower than your true max hp. If you’re down to 1 hp and not injured and you get out of combat, you’ll be back at full hp in 10 or 20 seconds. If your “current max hp” gets down to half, you’re in a bad spot and it’ll take multiple minutes (current max hp recovers by 1 every 3-4 seconds, orders of magnitude slower than your normal health regen outside of battle). This mechanic produces a dynamic where during gameplay the player is heavily pressured to fight only when strong and run when weak. After all, you only die if current max hp hits 0, and getting to the state where you’re bleeding out is the full length of your health bar if you’re uninjured but could be much lower if you’ve already just barely survived a few fights. Emotionally this makes situations where you really can feel how much smaller the four of you are than the enemy army, especially when you get in a nasty cycle of them dropping more enemies on you just as you’re finishing up the prior fight. It ramps up tension, and makes you seek out safe havens and places the army can’t reach.

The storytelling angle on the MDA Framework sees the Designer’s Story as the Mechanics, the Storytelling (or play experience) as Dynamics, and the Player’s Story (aka the stories they tell themselves about how the game session went) as Affect. This is where FFXV loses a lot of people. It’s broadly panned by critics for how the Designer’s Story snaps from a freeform open-world game to being 100% on rails until shortly before the final boss, at which point it attempts to sell you on its open world again.

From a gameplay perspective, I don’t think XV gains much from its open world. There are a few counterexamples - the experience I had of encountering an Iron Giant at night, just kind of driving around the middle of nowhere is a good emergent gameplay moment - but I think similar experiences could be replicated in instanced content and meanwhile a lot of bland tromping across open plains could be removed.

Meanwhile because it’s so firmly about brotherhood and the fraternal bond between four young men, a lot of the moments that resonate most strongly with its themes are scripted to match appropriate story beats.

Ironically I think the better way to improve FFXV would be to strengthen its rails, not to take it off the rails. FFX was extremely on rails! Until basically the final boss, there wasn’t any way of going back to prior zones at all! The rails, clearly, weren’t the problem. I think a lot of the problem was in the expectation of freedom owing to the first portion of the story being so wide-open and choice-oriented. Because of the existing themes of Noctis entering adulthood, I like the idea of the nature of his options changing somehow. Maybe add in factions he can befriend in the political landscape, each with a specific flair and style. This gives the adult message of his actions now having consequences on people outside his immediate social circle, but also continues to expand options for self-expression. The idea that options for self-expression being constrained is part of the fundamental nature of adulthood is...perhaps one with cultural resonance for a lot of Japanese people, but a lot of people - Japanese people included - just plain hate it as an idea. So I’d make sure whatever options were present early in the game, there might not be the same kinds of choices but there would be just as many that felt meaningful. Perhaps the early game includes exploration and poking aimlessly at sidequests, but once the physical location gets on rails you get into a Mass Effect style of branching narrative tree instead, or that’s when the characters suddenly get access to a job system that lets you customize your play style itself like crazy.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to do it and they can come at the problem from fundamentally different angles. I think the truth of XV is that the design problem was financial; They’d have made the whole game this freeform romp through the countryside if they’d had the scratch, but they ran out of money so they had to focus on getting the story told. Some of the lazier late-game assets (detailed in various reviews, such as this one from Super Eyepatch Wolf) indicate the same. I expect if I got into that situation I’d take the same approach. To my eye it beats the Lord of the Rings Cartoon approach, where they did production front-to-back and therefore released a movie that’s a really cool first 2/3 of a movie and then it literally just stops without the last 1/3 happening. I think I also prefer it to kicking the can down the road and trying to call it “Part 1 of 2,” because the odds of a satisfying Part 2 getting made are never good in that kind of situation. Once they were in that pickle, they did the best with what they had.

But if I could catch things just a little bit pre-pickle, those are the changes I’d make: I’d take the focus off of the open world - particularly I’d remove most of the real-time travel in favor of environments I could pack more densely with interactions. From a production standpoint I think I’d use a hex map “quadrant design” system, where design teams would make individual hexes of content for a world map and then we’d design the world map to fit the number of encounters we were able to get done, rather than making a world map and hoping we could fill it up with stuff. I’d ABSOLUTELY avoid constraining the player agency, especially in association with Noctis’ journey to adulthood. That just...seems to imply a really shitty theme, and I’m not here for it. To combat this directly, I’d probably add in another cool system associated somehow with adulthood in the second half of the game. There’d be a direct statement from the game that you might lose some choice about some things but you have SO MUCH more choice about others!

So yeah. Those are the Mechanics I’d add to FFXV and how I think they’d change Affect by way of the Dynamics of play.

[ashtoncreative]

Nailing Down

Last week we set a goal to all to individual research over the weekend, on Monday, we came back together and discussed our research to one another. We had some pretty similar stuff, but Ethan researched into ‘conformity’ and ‘herd-like behaviour’ which clicked with us and we’re thinking that conformity would very much suit what we are aiming to show to our audience. 

Now that we have a general idea for what the purpose of our project is, to put users through a virtual experience which simulates what it feels like to be excluded from society, we got our hands on a Vive Virtual Reality headset and begun doing some early prototypes which included setting it up and all testing it out as 3/4 of us hadn’t really had much experience with virtual reality before. 

Something we were lacking in, was that it seems as if we were not all thinking in the same wavelength as one another and wanted to fix that by individually writing a quick general summary of what we want our project to be/what we think our project is so far. 

Luckily we all mutually agree with most things that our project consists of, we all want to put users through a Virtual Reality experience, which triggers dissociation/anxiety in order to give users an. understanding of what it feels like to be left out. 

Now that we have a general idea for what our experience is going to be, we did yet again another ‘Shut The F***’ exercise, this time, we first went through on our green sticky notes and wrote down different environments that our scenes can take place in our game. 

Once we had as many different environments we could think of in 3 minutes, we then discussed as a team different ‘tasks’ and ‘effects’ that can happen in these environments before we started our next round which would be to spend two minutes per environment and jot down as many ideas as possible for what the context could be and the effect. 

For example, under the environment, ‘School/University’ one of the tasks is to open your locker, this would be done through using the VR controls to work on your locker combination, but the longer the users struggles, the more humans stare and laugh at them while they struggle to get their locker unlocked. 

Before we continued on with our project, we took a step back and used the MDA Framework in order to nail down on our purpose, so we have some framework to follow in order to help us stay on the correct path. Here it is:

Our purpose is to create a virtual reality experience which facilitates challenge and discovery by exploring the role of conformity in society and the feeling of alienation and/or depersonalisation.

After this, we finally narrowed down potential environments and scenarios by voting with a ‘ja’ or ‘nein’ for all the different tasks so we can visually see which ones are more desirable as they have a higher number of votes towards them. If an idea got four ‘neins’ it was instantly taken off the wall as the idea obviously was not strong enough.

After that, we consulted with Charles and Clint. Clint suggested considering a minimalist aesthetic and veered us toward using humour as an initial "rope in" and having the experience change over time. 

Charles recommended getting started with prototypes and -------- told us to consider our audience and how our chosen scenarios relate to our potential audience. We decided that the experience would be best set in the same environment throughout the game to maintain a sense of continuity and juxtaposition through familiarity/reference and that an office would be the best scenario to explore.

[sheenaatbct]

Game and Play Design Project

Genre Study: Arcade

Give an overview of the genre’s origins, form, and thematic content.

Arcade games originally were non-digital but developed into digital games around the 1970s. The 1970s through to the 1980s was the golden age for arcade games (Reynolds, 2017). Arcade games tend to be simple, with short levels and increasing difficulty. Graphics are usually very simple, allowing for developers to focus purely on the game play rather than making it pretty (Thompson, 2003).

Arcade has many sub genres. These include:

Maze/Chase – The player must navigate through mazes or obstacles, usually within a single playing field and having to complete multiple levels. Pong – Bat and ball type games with the main objective being to score points. Played within a single playing field. Shooters – The player must shoot enemies or obstacles. This requires coordination and quick reflexes. Puzzlers – These games are less action packed and require more thinking and strategizing. Platformers – The player must navigate a character through obstacles and platforms. Usually in a side scroller form. (Feldman, 2001)

What are some examples of the genre, or prominent artists?

The most prominent arcade games include Pac Man (1980), Pong (1972), and Space Invaders (1978), which remains to be the most popular arcade game.

What are the technical/mechanical ‘markers’?

Arcade games include very simple mechanics, simple graphics, and short levels which increase in difficulty over time.

The classic medium for these types of games is on arcade machines, with more tactile controls which make for a unique experience.

What emotional and sensory experience does the genre invoke?

Under the MDA framework, arcade games would predominantly fall under the category of challenge, where the player must overcome obstacles and enemies (Hunicke, Leblanc, Zubek, 2004).

There is also a feeling of nostalgia as well with arcade games being an older medium for video games.

Why do people engage with this genre? What is it good at?

The arcade game genre engages people for a few different reasons.

The simple game play makes it easy for people to get into them. The simplicity of the graphics meant that the developers of these games focused purely on the game play itself, making arcade games more fun to play.

Nostalgia also plays into this, as arcades were a large part of people’s childhoods, and the retro aspect attracting other audiences.

References:

Ahoy (2013), A Brief History Of Video Games, [Video File], Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoyGlyrYb9c

Feldman, A., & Feldman, A. (2001). Designing arcade computer game graphics. Wordware Pub..

Hunicke, R., LeBlanc, M., & Zubek, R. (2004, July). MDA: A formal approach to game design and game research. In Proceedings of the AAAI Workshop on Challenges in Game AI(Vol. 4, No. 1, p. 1722).

Ren Reynolds (2017), A Short History Of Arcade Video Games, Retrieved from https://www.ren-reynolds.com/2017/07/23/short-history-arcade-video-games/

Scott, J (2017), Retro gaming: Why players are returning to the classics, BBC News, Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40427838

Thompson, C (2003), Blasts from the Past, Slate, Retrieved from https://slate.com/culture/2003/12/why-are-retro-arcade-hits-so-popular.html

[spectrumpsp]

Recognizing Delirium in Home Hospice

Delirium Signs and Symptoms

Delirium is an intense confusional state which can cause an unexpected change in the mind, mental disarray, and passionate breakdown. It happens possibly due to beneath:

Fundamental condition substance/prescription harmfulness

Withdrawal of a substance/drug poisonous

It makes it extreme to focus, perceive, cause lack of sleep, and can't focus. Patients face intensely with abrupt beginning of mental component changes, tangible movement aggravations, and social declarations and unsettling.

Intellectual changes need cognizance, bewilderment, mental vulnerability, disarray, scattered reasoning example can't focus, labile effect, and psychosis

Unremitting unsettling influences including disillusionment, fancies, insanity, and pipe dreams

Conduct unsettling influences including nervousness, bother, disturbance, disinhibition, irritation, restless and fractiousness

Variance, disposition swings, or waxing/winding down in side effects during the entire day

Ridiculousness has different sub types, which are to be classified as:

Hyperactive – Continuous emotional episodes, perceptual changes in cognizance, Psycho motor unsettling, inconvenience, aggravations, and that might be joined by mind-set lability don't help out clinical consideration and decline to gain any clinical consideration contemplation

Hypo active – Fatigue, body solidness, absence of energy, Psycho motor hindrance, discouraged temperament, withdrawal, and hesitant of performing proactive tasks joined by dormancy and laziness that approaches absence of basic mental capacity daze

Blended – Both highlights of hyperactive and hypo active people show changes in conduct that varies day by day

Causes In The Palliative Care Setting

Practically any vacillation or change in regular exercises or aggravation of ordinary physiology can bring about ridiculousness. Patients with serious ailments are explicitly more helpless against advancement since they have extreme, confounded, changing clinical issues. Various drugs for the treatment of sickness are more dependent upon mediation.

Normal, ordinarily can be eliminated/settled:

Prescriptions (for example narcotics, steroids, benzodiazepines, anticholinergic medications)

Withdrawal (for example from benzodiazepines, narcotics, liquor)

Obstruction – Infrequent or difficult to pass stool

Urinary Retention – Inability to purge the bladder

Parchedness – Low degree of fluid in the body

More uncommon, ordinarily are frequently taken out/settled whenever lined up with objectives of care:

Metabolic unsettling influence (for example hypernatremia)

Frailty lack of red platelets

Hypoxemia-low degree of oxygen content

More uncommon, generally can't be taken out/settled:

Way to inversion isn't appropriate and contradictory with objectives of care (for example blood draws for labs, strategies)

Organ Failure – Dysfunction, liberated insusceptible reaction of body organ (for example renal, hepatic, respiratory)

CNS Pathology – Infection brought about by a wide assortment of organic entities like infection, microorganisms, parasites (for example tumor/metastasis, non-convulsive status epilepticus)

Indicative Failure – The issue in intellectual and framework mistake is that a symptomatic workup didn't track down a reversible etiology

Remedial Failure – Failure to achieve the treatment objectives bringing about deficient treatment a period restricted helpful preliminary is a disappointment at switching the wooziness

Counteraction

Forestalling wooziness begins with patients who are at high danger for fever. Characteristics include:

Age ≥ 65 years

Pattern psychological decay, hidden hindrance frameworks, for example, carelessness known as dementia

Vision issue as low vision, obscured, terrible visual perception or hearing

Low practical status, brokenness of the organ

Serious or basic ailment

Liquor abuse an example of drinking is abuse that prompts mischief to one's well being

Wretchedness mind-set problem, steady sensation of misery, bitterness

Current hip break

Post-medical procedure care after a surgery

Audit Medications

Attempt to diminish the quantity of portions and endeavor to cinch down the quantity of complete drugs utilized

Suspend, quit utilizing drugs that can bring about rare and hard to pass stools (blockage) or drying out

Stay away from and quit utilizing ideal recommended prescription, the executives, and the organization that stop and interfere with patients' ordinary rest cycle and wake-up daily schedule

Breaking point and control the utilization of prescriptions if conceivable that are related with incoherence (for example anticholinergics (e.g, diphenhydramine, scopolamine), benzodiazepines (for example lorazepam), narcotics (for example morphine), and corticosteroids (for example dexamethasone).

At the point when obliviousness and evasion are improper, not plausible for the patient's generally magnificent and ideal consideration, mitigate dose(s) to the gentle, littlest, and best

Utilize non-drug measures:

Furnish and Equip patient with advanced, apparent tickers and schedules

Make open glasses and portable amplifiers

Energize occurrences of moving, activity ambulation helps stop the advancement of stroke

Support and empower make ordinary rest wake cycle

Screen for signs and side effects and think about screening devices to trigger further appraisal:

Less clearness, mindfulness, or data of the climate

Failure to center, stay stable, maintain, or shift consideration

A modification in comprehension like neglect, mental disarray, bewilderment, language issue, aggravation, or a perceptual disarray like frustration pipedreams, disarray, or fancies

Upset rest design

Unusual psychomotor action

Passionate breakdown, aggravations like dread, outrage, discouragement, indifference, nervousness, or rapture

Screening

Screening devices recognize the presence of intellectual debilitation however may not analyze incoherence minus any additional appraisal. Mental status assessment and audit of indicative standards are needed to affirm the analysis of wooziness.

The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)

Is perhaps the most generally utilized evaluating devices for wooziness. The presence of highlights 1, 2 either 3 or 4 beneath, may prompt an incoherence finding.

Highlight 1: Acute Onset or Fluctuating course

Highlight 2: Inattention, Inability to zero in on

Highlight 3: Unorganized, Muddled Thinking

Highlight 4: Altered and Disturb Level of Consciousness

The Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS)

Intended to gauge the force, 10-thing, four-point spectator appraised size of incoherence with sequential perceptions. It incorporates investigation of aggravations, disarray, and absence of cognizance (mindfulness), direction, momentary memory, digit range, consideration inadequacy, coordinated reasoning, discernment, daydreams, psycho motor action, and excitement in a way that mirrors every one of the principle demonstrative measures as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental disorder. This instrument has the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) to survey and screen daze in numerous establishments.

The Bedside Confusion Scale

This is another apparatus to screen, screen and longitudinally follow incoherence in palliative consideration. The scale evaluates the capacity to present the a year in invert request and of cognizance state. Sequential sevens and spelling words, for example, "ranch" or "world" in reverse are other standard consideration tests.

The board

In the circle of an emergency clinic setting, and inside the shortfall of cutting edge disorder, incoherence show a few chances to invert the basic reasons; yet inside the palliative consideration setting, staggeringly near the finish of life, reversible causes don't appear to be sufficient, the exertion even the astute clinicians have a negligible decision anyway to oversee apparently. Palliative consideration clinicians are known to rapidly end the patient indications and supply backing to families and parental figures.

Workup or create something ought to depend on the individual patient's ailment status and guess

Audit and examine the drug list, coordinate and associate changes in prescription to the beginning of the manifestations, address poly pharmacy, suspend meds adding to hindrance, and tighten meds that could hasten extra issues

Utilize reversible causes, for example, drug withdrawal and contamination when lined up with objectives of care

It could be more helpful for not many patients, and results will be more beneficial to treat the incoherence instead of quest for the hidden reason

At the point when the rectification of essential issues and reasons for ridiculousness is undetected and not possible, the ordinary consideration movements to side effect the board

Non-Pharmacological Management

It incorporates predictable patient reorientation and consolation, dependable presence of relatives and dear companions, formation of a quiet and natural climate, and appropriate evaluation and the executives of tactile shortages, for example hearing misfortune (usefulness of portable amplifiers) and vision (require eyeglasses).

Guarantee well-being keep the condition of being same from conceivable peril and damage

Supply with satisfactory nourishment and hydration

Stay away from and avoid actual ruins and limitations

Reduce exorbitant incitement

Routinely screen and update patients and guarantee the patient of his or their security

Support family or some other part near being at bedside

Pharmacological mediation include:

Anti psychotics, normally haloperidol (be that as it may, second-age anti psychotics have been referred to as of late)

Benzodiazepines in select circumstances, and narcotics. Utilize the less successful portion of a medicine for the most limited span conceivable

Anti psychotics are viewed as the main line for possibly reversible insanity and might be utilized in blend with benzodiazepines and different narcotics for irreversible wooziness. Haloperidol (Haldol) is the need prescription.

Benzodiazepines are considered for irreversible daze and should stay away for conceivably reversible hyperactive incoherence except if anti psychotics don't control disturbance. Benzodiazepines are regularly answerable for daze precipitation and may compound daze emerging from different causes. Benzodiazepines are not viable as monotherapy and are suggested as an enhancement as it were. Models incorporate lorazepam (Ativan) and midazolam (Versed).

Different tranquilizers might be gainful for irreversible wooziness and are saved for tumult control, in opposition to any remaining means. Medicine models incorporate phenobarbital and propofol (Diprivan).

The Anti psychotic Debate

A few clinicians experience antipsychotics as helpful cures in low dosages to give brief, palliative alleviation data transfer capacity, while non-pharmacological measures do present.

Others accepted that insanity pharmacological administration with antipsychotics has been a quick wellspring of compound restriction and is for the most part not down to earth.

Truly, the anti psychotic class isn't new to public worry over excluded antagonistic impacts. In 2005, the FDA gave an unpredictable framework cautioning for all anti psychotic marking dependent on expanded death rates in older patients with dementia. The danger of death in drug-treated patients was 1.6 to 1.7 occasions the danger in the fake treatment bunch. The best condition was cardiovascular (for example cardiovascular breakdown, unexpected demise) or contamination (for example pneumonia). Security with the deficient proof to help the normal utilization of anti psychotics to forestall or treat incoherence, there is sufficient motivation to stop prior to choosing an anti psychotic for insanity the executives.

In 2017, discoveries of an arbitrary control preliminary achieved another conversation regarding the matter. The examination bunch included for patients with gentle to direct ridiculousness in a medical clinic setting, agents thought that it was less helpful from a low portion of risperidone or haloperidol than fake treatment. The discoveries were intriguing. Nonetheless, the patient populace, setting, and results estimated made it trying to comprehend it comprehensively. In any case, the preliminary's distribution prompted various meta-examinations organized and orderly audits in the previous three years on ridiculousness pharmacological administration.

In the Annals of Internal Medicine, a new organized audit distributed where specialists tried to research anti psychotic treatment advantages and damage in hospitalized grown-up patients with incoherence.

Taking all things together, 16 randomized controlled preliminaries and ten observational investigations with distributions going from 2004 to 2017 were inspected.

Discoveries

Agents investigate no distinction in sedation status, insanity term, medical clinic length of stay, or mortality among haloperidol and second-age anti psychotics versus fake treatment

There is no distinction in haloperidol's daze seriousness and intellectual working versus second-age anti psychotics, with deficient or no proof for anti psychotics versus fake treatment

In spite of the fact that there was some proof that shows that neurological damages related with momentary utilization of anti psychotics for treating wooziness in grown-up inpatients

Moreover, conceivably unsafe heart impacts happen all the more regularly in those controlled anti psychotics

[claudias-game-blog]

Mechanics, Dynamics, & Aesthetics

When my team and I were designing our game the mechanics and the emotional responses that we wanted the player to have, were regularly discussed and playtested. I recently came across a paper (Hunicke,  LeBlanc, &  Zubek, 2004) that discusses a framework that “formalizes the consumption of games by breaking them into their distinct components” these components are Mechanics, Dynamics, & Aesthetics. 

Aesthetics describes the desirable emotional responses evoked in the player when she interacts with the game system.

The authors talk about how to specify what the aesthetics of the game are without using the words “fun” and “gameplay” but instead moving towards a more directed vocabulary. They came up with this list.

1. Sensation Game as sense-pleasure

2. Fantasy Game as make-believe

3. Narrative Game as drama

4. Challenge Game as obstacle course

5. Fellowship Game as social framework

6. Discovery Game as uncharted territory

7. Expression Game as self-discovery

8. Submission Game as pastime

9. Dramatic Tension as constrict

When talking about our game as a whole and not just our studio artifact I think that our game follows these aesthetic components: Fantasy, Narrative,  Dramatic Tension & Discovery.

Dynamics describes the run-time behavior of the mechanics acting on player inputs and each othersí outputs over time.

The main purpose of game dynamics are to create aesthetic experiences. For example, the aesthetic component Discovery is created by things like game exploration and immersive level design, while the component Narrative is created by having a dynamics of dialogue or NPC characters. 

“Dramatic tension comes from dynamics that encourage a rising tension, a release, and a denouement.” This is dynamic that our game really strives to achieve since our main concept idea is fear.

Mechanics describes the particular components of the game, at the level of data representation and algorithms.

The authors suggest that adjusting the mechanics of a game fine-tune the games overall dynamics. The main mechanic of our game ‘Lumos’ is light and the use of light to create/build tension. This mechanic extends the feeling of fear and helps to create this idea of ‘the things we fear in the dark.’ 

Hunicke, R., LeBlanc, M., & Zubek, R. (2004, July). MDA: A formal approach to game design and game research. In Proceedings of the AAAI Workshop on Challenges in Game AI(Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 1-5). AAAI Press San Jose, CA.

[microlearningplatform]

DDE Framework: The Secret to Engaging Game-Based Microlearning

The DDE Framework for Game Design in Microlearning: Transforming Training with Gamification

Gamification in learning is no longer a novelty—it’s a necessity. Traditional training methods often struggle to engage modern learners, who expect interactive, engaging, and dynamic experiences. This is where game design principles come into play, making learning more effective and enjoyable.

A structured approach to gamification in microlearning is the DDE Framework—which stands for Design, Dynamics, and Experience. This model provides a clear structure for integrating game elements into microlearning platforms like MaxLearn, ensuring that training is both engaging and results-driven.

In this article, we’ll explore: ✔ What the DDE Framework is ✔ How it enhances gamified microlearning ✔ Practical applications for corporate training

Understanding the DDE Framework

The DDE Framework is a structured approach to game design that ensures learning experiences are:

Engaging (keeping learners motivated)

Effective (improving knowledge retention)

Effortless (easy to navigate and complete)

Each component—Design, Dynamics, and Experience—plays a crucial role in making gamified microlearning successful.

1. Design: Structuring the Game Elements

The Design phase focuses on planning and structuring the gamification strategy. This step determines how learning objectives align with game mechanics to drive engagement.

Key Components of the Design Phase:

🎨 Visual & Interactive Elements – UI/UX, avatars, themes, and storytelling enhance immersion. 📜 Learning Objectives – Ensuring game elements support clear, measurable learning goals. 🎯 Gamification Mechanics – Defining leaderboards, achievements, levels, and challenges. 🕹 Game Rules & Rewards – Establishing rules, progression systems, and motivational incentives.

Example in Microlearning: Imagine a compliance training module where learners complete challenges to unlock new levels, reinforcing knowledge while keeping engagement high.

2. Dynamics: How the Game Engages Learners

The Dynamics phase focuses on learner interaction with the game mechanics. It’s about creating an emotional connection and ensuring the experience is interactive.

Key Components of the Dynamics Phase:

🔁 Progression & Motivation – Ensuring continuous engagement through levels, badges, and milestones. 🤝 Social Interactions – Integrating team-based challenges, leaderboards, and peer competition. 🚀 Instant Feedback – Providing real-time performance insights to guide learners. 🎭 Personalized Challenges – Adapting difficulty levels based on learner performance.

Example in Microlearning: A sales training module where employees compete in real-time quizzes, earning rewards for correct answers, creating a competitive and motivating environment.

3. Experience: How Learners Perceive the Journey

The Experience phase focuses on the user journey, engagement levels, and emotional response. A well-designed gamified microlearning course should feel rewarding and meaningful.

Key Components of the Experience Phase:

🎉 Intrinsic Motivation – Making learning enjoyable beyond just earning points. 🔄 Retention & Application – Reinforcing knowledge through spaced repetition and scenario-based learning. 📱 Seamless Accessibility – Ensuring learners can access content easily on mobile and desktop. 💡 Storytelling & Immersion – Creating an engaging narrative that learners connect with.

Example in Microlearning: A cybersecurity training program that places learners in a simulated attack scenario, allowing them to make choices that affect the outcome—making learning realistic and memorable.

Why Use the DDE Framework in Microlearning?

Microlearning platform is all about short, focused learning experiences. The DDE Framework enhances this by making learning:

✅ More Engaging – Learners stay motivated with game mechanics like badges, challenges, and leaderboards. ✅ More Retentive – Gamified content improves knowledge retention rates through active participation. ✅ More Personalized – Adaptive challenges ensure each learner gets a customized experience. ✅ More Enjoyable – Training becomes fun, increasing completion rates and participation.

Without gamification, microlearning risks being just another passive e-learning experience. The DDE Framework ensures it is dynamic, interactive, and rewarding.

Real-World Applications of the DDE Framework in Corporate Training

Let’s explore how different industries can leverage the DDE Framework to enhance training.

1. Sales Training – 🎯 Boosting Performance Through Gamified Learning

Design: Sales reps progress through levels as they complete negotiation scenarios.

Dynamics: Instant feedback helps them improve pitch strategies.

Experience: Leaderboards create friendly competition.

2. Compliance Training – 📜 Making Mandatory Training Fun

Design: Training modules turn compliance policies into mini-games.

Dynamics: Employees earn badges for each completed policy section.

Experience: Storytelling makes regulations easy to understand and apply.

3. Customer Service Training – 💬 Enhancing Communication Skills

Design: Interactive role-play simulations for handling customer queries.

Dynamics: AI-driven real-time feedback for responses.

Experience: Scenario-based learning makes training immersive.

4. Onboarding Training – 🚀 Engaging New Employees from Day One

Design: Employees navigate a virtual onboarding world.

Dynamics: Milestone achievements mark progress.

Experience: Personalized learning paths make onboarding engaging.

Best Practices for Implementing the DDE Framework in Microlearning

To maximize the impact of DDE-driven gamification, follow these best practices:

✔ Keep it Simple – Avoid overcomplicating game mechanics. Simple challenges work best. ✔ Align with Learning Goals – Every gamification element should reinforce the training objective. ✔ Use Meaningful Rewards – Offer badges, certificates, and real-world incentives to maintain motivation. ✔ Encourage Social Learning – Integrate peer challenges, leaderboards, and team-based competitions. ✔ Analyze & Optimize – Use AI-driven analytics to track learner performance and improve training effectiveness.

MaxLearn: The Ultimate Gamified Microlearning Platform

Platforms like MaxLearn leverage AI-powered gamification and microlearning to deliver engaging, effective, and customized training experiences.

🚀 Why Choose MaxLearn? 🔹 AI-powered adaptive learning for personalized experiences 🔹 Engaging game mechanics (leaderboards, rewards, challenges) 🔹 Mobile-friendly microlearning for on-the-go training 🔹 Data-driven insights for tracking and improving performance

If you’re looking to supercharge your training programs with gamification, MaxLearn’s AI-powered microlearning is the perfect solution.

Final Thoughts: Why the DDE Framework is a Game-Changer for Learning

The DDE Framework (Design, Dynamics, Experience) provides a structured approach to gamifying microlearning, ensuring training is:

🎯 Engaging 📚 Educational 💡 Memorable

By implementing game elements effectively, organizations can enhance learning outcomes, boost motivation, and drive business success.

🔹 Are you ready to transform your training? Explore how MaxLearn can help you implement the DDE Framework in your corporate learning strategy today! 🚀

[thisdaynews]

JUST IN:Corruption, inefficiencies actually swarm government agencies despite lawmakers’ oversight.

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/just-incorruption-inefficiencies-actually-swarm-government-agencies-despite-lawmakers-oversight/

JUST IN:Corruption, inefficiencies actually swarm government agencies despite lawmakers’ oversight.

Reports of the Auditor General of the Federation from 2015 to 2019, which accumulated in the National Assembly a while after their accommodation for thought by the Committee on Public Accounts, uncovered that it was still the same old thing for government employees as administrative legislators appeared to have reneged on their oversight capacities throughout the long term.

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Indeed, even the Public Account Committee, which turns out to be the main standing board perceived in the country’s constitution and customarily headed by an individual from the resistance to dodge bargain, has likewise throughout the long term, neglected to complete its normal exercise on the reports of the Auditor General for the Federation typically submitted to it.

For example, there is no record to show that the board , headed by Senator Andy Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party in the eighth Senate, accomplished any genuine work on the AuGF reports submitted to the National Assembly from 2015 to 2018.

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This is clear on the grounds that a similar board in the ninth Senate, presently headed by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, likewise of the PDP is as yet thinking about one of the volumes of the 2015 report, leaving those of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, unattended to, over one year after its introduction.

Despite the fact that the Urhoghide board said it had outlined techniques to deal with the thought of the multitude of reports before the finish of the nineth Senate in 2023, it is glaring that reports of AuGF from 2019 to 2023 would accumulate unattended to when the current National Assembly is broken up.

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The faceoff between the chief and the Senate authority in the eighth Assembly didn’t improve the situation at all as oversight capacities endured an extraordinary arrangement.

Heads of government services, offices and offices exploited the circumstance to do their exercises without plan of action to the National Assembly by and large.

The improvement brought about heads of MDAs including in extra-budgetary spending, misappropriation and executing financial plans without the endorsement of the country’s parliament as apparent in the report of the AuGF been considered by the SPAC.

A cross-segment of Nigerians and legislators, who addressed our reporter on the issue, accept that oversight elements of the administrators were simply to satisfy all honesty and that nothing genuine was being done at whatever point they leave on such celebration.

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For example, the President, Women Arise and Center for Change. Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, contends that legislators’ oversight capacities throughout the years in our Nigeria, “have been a pointless activity attributable to the level of debasement that has eaten profound into our good and financial textures as a people.”

She stated, “Administrators are legally expected to be the soul and eyes of their different bodies electorate in this manner going about as specialists of check and equilibriums openly administration as ‘total force taints totally’ yet for avarice, sell their inner voices by gathering pay-offs from contractual workers, services, organizations and divisions under their watch.”

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Odumakin keeps up that the officials are not doing what’s necessary to check debasement in the services, offices and offices of government.

She stated, “From the different records accessible to us throughout the long term, there is such a great amount to be done with respect to our lawmakers to check defilement in our services, offices and offices.

“Debasement is a colossal danger to our aggregate government assistance and improvement as a people. We should frontally battle it in the event that we really need to be in the association or comity of created countries.

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“For example, we have had instances of where contractual workers are activated without their essence on undertaking locales. Just of later while there was an all out lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we heard that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs dispensed billions of naira to take care of younger students.

“We have similarly known about the decays in the Niger Delta Development Commission under the domain of Senator Godswill Akpabio which prompted the ‘blacking out show’ of its Managing Director, Prof. Pondei Daniel Kemebradikumu while being explored by the House Committee on NDDC.”

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She said there was no refuting, the way that claims of pay off during oversight exercises could be the explanation behind the officials’ powerlessness to check the decays in the MDAs

She said government required a political will to diminish debasement to the barest least as advocated by previous President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who presented the Banking Verification Number, for each financial balance holders in the nation and its credit only approach.

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She additionally focuses on the requirement for the computerization of the finance of local officials has diminished the act of paying phantom laborers the nation over.

Odumakin stated, “Arraignment and enrolling of the names of proof based degenerate pioneers and residents the same in the Corruption Index vault of the nation is important to stop us a people from voracity.

“There is likewise, the need to set up solid foundations, autonomous legal executive and free press to have the option to escape this dooming circumstance that we are in as of now in as a people envious of improved economy and way of life.”

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Also, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, demands that the administrators are coming up short in their oversight capacities as accommodated under Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as corrected in 2010), which engages the governing body to do examinations inside its fitness to forestall and uncover defilement, shortcoming or waste in the execution or organization of laws.

He, in any case, says the nineth Assembly is relied upon to devise a system for a compelling oversight obligation to cover the usage of activities, consistence to laws, requests, and strategies inside state and non-state entertainers.

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He says the officials should delineate explicit authoritative oversight to hinder monetary spillages in government, given the ongoing unaccounted inflows and outpourings of unfamiliar and homegrown help on COVID-19 pandemic.

Rafsanjani stated, “The Assembly has not displayed huge improvement in its oversight work on observing incomes accumulating to the public authority from other income streams separated from the oil and gas area including usage of gave and obtained assets by the Government of Nigeria to guarantee that the crisis subsidizing fills the expected need of saving the wellbeing and job of the country.

“Additionally, the National Assembly has not founded an observing and assessment framework to assess the execution and effects of laws in guaranteeing laws are couple with cultural desire.

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“We are as yet anticipating earnest administrative exertion to reinforce the Accountant General’s Office to guarantee consistence with the different proposal by the Office and advance responsibility in the portion and use of public finances expected to counter COVID-19 and to give monetary improvement bundles.

“It has not indicated the necessary responsibility and ability to examine and survey the yearly reports of the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation and make a move against MDAs that didn’t present their inspected accounts as ordered by the Law.

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“It has additionally yet to guarantee that obtainment measures directed by the individual MDAs are straightforward and in accordance with existing lawful and strategy structures.”

He mourned that the oversight elements of the officials are enduring an extraordinary arrangement notwithstanding the quantities of standing boards of trustees at the two offices of the National Assembly settled to do the task of checking the exercises of the MDAs.

He said the administrators are not doing what’s needed to guarantee that MDAs are not messing with the spending plan, execute extortion, fumble reserves or mocking the Federal Character Act across MDAs.

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He stated, “There are industrious charges and reports on pay off and defilement that overwhelm oversight exercises directed by some authoritative councils both in the at various times. These are sufficient to be credited to the lawmakers’ failure in oversight responsibility over the MDAs.”

Pushing ahead, he stated, “the governing body must feature full straightforwardness and responsibility while heightening administrative oversight to impede monetary spillages across MDAs and charge its important Committees to comprehensively examine the revealed instances of pay off and debasement with proper approval without dread or nepotism.”

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He stated, “Through oversight work, it must draw in intensive compromise of MDAs’ spending plan with explicit thoughtfulness regarding the presentation.

“The governing body must reinforce oversight on Defense and security area as a panacea to reestablish respectability, lessen spillages and advance responsibility in the area.”

The Chairman, Senate public Accounts Committee, Senator Matthew Urhogide, concurs that the alarming disclosures in the reports of the AuGF being considered by his board has prosecuted the administrators of not really doing what’s necessary to check the exercises of the MDAs, through oversight capacities.

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Urhoghide stated, “To an exceptionally enormous degree, the disclosure from the Auditor General report is an arraignment with respect to the National Assembly standing board of trustees that should be oversight the different MDAs.

“We don’t have to trust that defilement will be fulfilled before we capture it. At the point when consumption is fulfilled that is when inspectors come in . For example the disclosures in the Foreign Affairs service is incredible. Someone will simply remain outside the nation and begin going through cash intended to run the workplace on close to home requirements.”

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He, anyway promised that SPAC would meet people’s high expectations, by ordering its discoveries and make its report accessible at whole.

He stated, “The different boards would perceive what has been going on in the MDAs they are oversighting without their insight.

[dinomightofficial]

MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research

06/03/2018

Mechanics, Dynamics and Aesthetics were the three key words emphasized. Aesthetic referring to the type of fun/play the player experiences whilst going through a game. The paper describes and demonstrates the use of this formal analysis method of games to simplify our understanding and categorizing of games.

My understanding is that the method of developing and iterating a game through the MDA method is for games that are close to finished production and want to reflect and polish their game so that it satisfies this formal method. I was wondering throughout this reading how this same process would work in conjunction with experimental game design. I imagine that for things like VR play a new subset for MDA would have to be made especially with realism and varying levels of immersion in mind.

I was also wondering how this framework could be taken further in a competitive scene where team dynamic is heavily dependent on game mechanics. For example; Overwatch is considered a very teamwork dependent game if you wish to succeed in competitive play. However, I remember in earlier seasons of Overwatch the game mechanic contained clearly much less team dependent game mechanics. A commonly overlooked (and my favourite character) was Roadhog and it was well known throughout the Overwatch community that with this beast of a character there was no way of beating this character one versus one if you were to be even remotely close to him. Roadhog had the mechanic of hooking other players in and could basically kill any other character with a single shot. I loved this character because even if other players weren’t doing so good in a particular game I could just make up for their behalf by myself with less team work/dynamic required. As a result I was able to get to a pretty high rank in competitive play and I absolutely loved playing Overwatch because of it.

However, later on Roadhog was substantially nerfed and its stats reduced as the developers thought that he was a bit overpowered and wanted to make players focus more on teamwork and team dynamic rather than domination. For me however I remember Overwatch never felt the same again and it was no longer fun. 

For an example like this I’m not so sure the MDA format can be helpful as substituting team work for fun can be a difficult and almost an impossible achievement for a game designer. MDA is an attempt at one for trying to formalize game design. I feel however that this method accomplished more at generalizing design rather than giving a real and effective tool for developers to iterate their product on. I’m certain that this paper may have some useful implications for certain games but I imagine that the amount of games that can take full use out of this formal analysis would be quite small.

http://www.cs.northwestern.edu/~hunicke/MDA.pdf

[busforachange]

P-Matics App for Patient’s Easy Accessibility to Health Records and History

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

 The market chosen to be researched on would be on health care and technology. The product to be evaluated is P-Matics, a fictitious app that combines applications and health informatics.  P-Matics would be a model product that would help patient’s accessibility to information. As a specialist currently working in disability claims and finance, P-Matics would also be evaluated on how it can update clients on regular basis of their disability and FMLA status. There are patients who are permanently out of the workforce due to health issues and lack of information to their health history. Unfortunately, health-care falls behind in informing patients of their health history and records due to lapse in technological accessibility for patients

A market domain is defined as “a segment of a broader industry with a focus or target of meeting a particular need in the marketplace.”  There is a major lapse in patient accessibility in health care. So much has changed in business in providing accessibility to consumers. Amazon, google and Facebook have changed consumerist approach to access of information. There is an app for every consumer needs out there.  People can easily shop online at the tips of their fingers. Healthcare has been slow to adapt to the rapidly changing economy. The App P-Matics, which is a derivative of patient data and informatics would help patients in getting all data information integrated into one app systems. The goal is for easy transfer of data for patients.  Disability and leave managers do not have easy access patients information. A claimant would have to sign a medical authorization and provide that document to his or her provider.  Once the provider receives the medical authorization, then the claim manager would now request medical records.  The process of claimants waiting to receive benefits because of the necessary medical records has not been received by the claim manager, could be daunting.  The P-Matics App would be a global App that would integrate all claimants and patients record into one file.

FACTORS

P-Matics would also in the areas of Family Medical Leave Acts and Disability claims of insurance services. An insurance company is “one that provides insurance policy, within the form of compensation due to loss, damages, harm, medication or injury in exchange for top class payments. The company calculates the hazard of occurrence then determines the price to exchange (pay for) the loss to investigate the premium amount.”

There exists a varieties of insurance, covers with different primary types of coverage policies. Some companies offer the whole suite of insurance, at the same time others concentrate on distinct areas. These are; existence insurance, this is a cover guaranteeing a designated sum of money to an exact beneficiary upon the loss of life of the insured, or to the insured if she or he lives beyond a specified age. Secondly health insurance, these are covers towards bills incurred by means of health problem of the insured and finally the coverage for property and trade misfortunes ("The Industry Handbook: The Insurance Industry | Investopedia", 2004). Consequently upon understanding the different effects of dissolution on different stakeholders the following can be viewed as the major causes of dissolution of Health Application Companies. They include the following but not limited to these;

Bureaucracy

Apps like P-Matic are currently not in the market. Surprisingly, a Cleveland Clinic has implemented similar app as P-Matics by partnering with Apple. Cleveland Clinic announced that its patients can now access their personal health data on their iPhone3 with health records feature. That, together with Cleveland clinic version of the Epic My chart app, offers patients more comprehensive mobile access to their own health data and a way to manage appointments, message their physicians and more, officials said. Health companies like Cleveland Clinic are exploring the something similar to the P-Matics App. However, the bureaucracy involved would impede the efficiencies of such applications. The Cleveland Clinic version would only provide access to Cleveland clinic information. Unfortunately, it would not give access to other patient records from other health facilities.

Government Control and Legislation

Based on federal law, there are HIPAA rules and regulations as well.  HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This is a United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information (HIPPA). Law is essential to defining the level of competitors in a market. It will avoid who is able to provide cover by way of requiring evidence of suitability, of the licensing and capital standards. It may also preclude how organizations compete through minimal policy requisites, restrictions on pricing, and how products are bought. The regulations set by HIPAA limits the ability of such applications like P-Matics.  To provide an app platform like P-Matics, it would require verification of secured data sharing on the application. In the era of hackers, especially from foreign counties, the legislation on data privacy has become stricter in United States. This would be a limitation from competitors who are innovating similar applications.

Unpredictability of the Market Forces

The use of mobile technology such as phone applications (apps) has been proposed as an efficient means of providing health and clinical information in a variety of healthcare settings.  We would develop P-Matic app phone application with the objective of providing health information about early pregnancy that would increase maternal confidence and reduce anxiety. Based on research, P-Matic would be form of health communication would be a preferred source of information for all patients. The popularity of the app would increase irrespective of socio-economic status (Soonhwan. 2017). The P-Matics app would become a necessity for all health-care system because it is irrespective of social class. Social class and lack of access to proper health care has been a major social divide in the health care. The app would be irrespective of social class.

Failure to Predict Company failures

The likelihood of a company failing depends on many factors; the state of the financial system, the extent of legislation and competitors available in the market, as good as the companies’ unique reasons. Developing a model that captures all this is far from an easy task. To try and reduce the demerits of this, firms have employed statistical procedures which are used to offset this failure. The ways used comprise: Ratio evaluation, a couple of regression models, Multiple Regression Models & Multiple Discriminant Analysis (MDA) (Altman z-ratings), Neural networks. Some companies have failed innovating similar apps because they refused to under the federal rules and regulation and also the creativity of the market. Hospitals are very slow to change they are not prepared for the twenty-first century. For example, medical school has been solely focused on practical medicine but has ignored the technological skills.  Many doctors who have been practicing for decades are no longer as effective because they are unable to adapt to the new technological skill necessary.

Expansion into new areas

Many health care and insurance companies have dropped into insolvency with focusing on trying to expand into areas rather than the ones wherein it has skills.  Companies like Apple and Amazon have been successful in shifting into markets that they are not originally built for. However, health companies have not been successful trying to do the same. The health care industry is highly specialized and highly regulated as well. They do not have the same freedom as other markets like Amazon and Apple.

Unforeseen threats

Prior to September 11, 2001, insurance and health care companies where exploring different tools for clients insurability and easy accessibility. This also happened to be the dot com era.  The World Wide Web was becoming widely in use and cell phones also became popularized during this time. The threat of terrorism gave the government control in safe-guarding people’s security. Everything we watch and do online is being monitored is any suspicion of affiliation to a terrorist organization. However, the integration into world wide web almost makes every searches and internet updates we make to be easily searchable on line. Unforseen future threat would only give the government a greater access to our personal data which could be used for other things.

IMPACTS OF FACTORS

Some of the challenges with the research would be that a few medical facilities are already testing the use of apps for health records.  A medical facility in Ohio has already implemented such use.  However, the adaptation of patient records to apps is still very slow in the health care. Health Informatics applications would provide that easy accessibility to all patients. P-MATICS would utilize the tools that are used in making apps and as well follow HIPPA rules and regulations. According to biznessapps.com, creating an app would require 12 steps. The steps are; 1. Set a Goal. 2. Sketch your Ideas. 3. Research and research more 4. Wireframe 5. Start Defining the Back End of the App. 6. Check the Model. 7. Get Building 8. Design the Look 9. Test Your App, Again. 10. Modify and Adjust. 11. Beta Testing 12. Release Your App (Millard, 2018

INTERNAL FACTORS: SWOT ANALYSIS

The SWOT analysis enables organizations to identify internal and external influences to help organizations make informed strategic decisions and improve business operations (Taylor, 2016). SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; it is an analytical framework that identifies the positive and negative elements and helps companies to effectively communicate what parts of a plan that needs to be recognized (Taylor, 2016). The SWOT analysis is on P-Matics apps. P-Matics is a new model that would integrate all health information into one platform as an app.  The first two letters in the acronym, S (strengths) and W (weaknesses), refer to internal factors, which means the resources and experience readily available to you (Taylor, 2016).

Strengths

The use of mobile technology such as phone applications (apps) has been proposed as an efficient means of providing health and clinical information in a variety of healthcare settings.  We would develop P-Matic app phone application with the objective of providing health information about early pregnancy that would increase maternal confidence and reduce anxiety. Based on research, P-Matic would be form of health communication would be a preferred source of information for all patients. The popularity of the app would increase irrespective of socio-economic status (Soonhwan. 2017). The P-Matics app would become a necessity for all health-care system because it is irrespective of social class. Social class and lack of access to proper health care has been a major social divide in the health care. The app would be irrespective of social class. P-Matics will be a ground breaking resource in the health care field.  It will allow easy share of information and data.

Weakness

Unforeseen threats

Prior to September 11, 2001, insurance and health care companies where exploring different tools for clients insurability and easy accessibility. This also happened to be the dot com era.  The World Wide Web was becoming widely in use and cell phones also became popularized during this time. The threat of terrorism gave the government control in safe-guarding people’s security. Everything we watch and do online is being monitored is any suspicion of affiliation to a terrorist organization. However, the integration into world wide web almost makes every searches and internet updates we make to be easily searchable on line. Unforeseen future threat would only give the government a greater access to our personal data which could be used for other things.

Governments pass laws, which influences the connection between the firm and its purchasers, suppliers, and other organizations. The federal government is in charge for shielding the general public interest. Government movements have an effect on the monetary environment and finally the government is a main purchaser of items and services and it is thus a major factor to consider for a successful sector in this case the insurance sector.

INTERNAL FACTORS: PRIORITIZED LIST

The new challenges of our time, calls for innovation and creativity in issues of insurance and health care, as it is a field that can reignite its profits, by forecasting the new and unforeseen challenges. This will allow the companies to eke it large by the being adaptable and timely in manner and application. To conclude therefore the sector that the Blue Cross company, is involved in is a business of numerous changes and adaptability, but the challenges are in themselves an impetus for the innovation and creativity.

INTERNAL FACTORS: READINESS

The insurance and health care business is a complex and competitive enterprise that relies on many interconnected social motives. Although insurance businesses have fiscal obligations, akin to addressing claims, issuing policies and performing underwriting tasks, the social part of the trade is simply as essential. Insurance sellers ought to possess robust social and interpersonal talents so they can with ease promote their products and services. Connecting with clients is one of the most major social motives in the insurance and health care business. Platforms on the Social Media have transformed the best way insurance firms market their insurance policies and protection options and try to keep robust reputations with consumers. Many insurance retailers use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to enchantment to buyers and unfold the phrase about their services (2016).

EXTERNAL FACTORS: PEST ANALYSIS

PEST is an acronym for political, economic, social and technological.  PEST analyzes the range of services of a company based on domestic services, special services and international services (Kadlubek, 2016). These services are influenced by the political factors, economic factors, and social factors and technological; factors ((Kadlubek, 2016).   For domestic service, there is a major lapse in patient accessibility in health care. So much has changed in business in providing accessibility to consumers. Amazon, google and Facebook have changed consumerist approach to access of information. There is an app for every consumer needs out there.  People can easily shop online at the tips of their fingers. Healthcare has been slow to adapt to the rapidly changing economy.

Under the special services, P-Matics, which is a derivative of patient data and informatics would help patients in getting all data information integrated into one app systems.  The goal is for easy transfer of data for patients.  Disability and leave managers do not have easy access patients information. A claimant would have to sign a medical authorization and provide that document to his or her provider.  Once the provider receives the medical authorization, then the claim manager would now request medical records.  The process of claimants waiting to receive benefits because of the necessary medical records has not been received by the claim manager, could be daunting.  The P-Matics App would be a global App that would integrate all claimants and patients record into one file.

For International services, P-Matics would be more of a security concern than economic expansion. P-Matics is to provide services to those within United States. With the rapid growth of international interference and spying on Americans, this has greatly escalated the great need for a strong security. In 2017, there was an alleged Russian cyber intrusion into the US electoral system. This has caused political divide and US continuous suspicion of Russia (Dr. Muhammad Riaz Shad, 2018). There have also been growing Russian hacking into US systems, social media and various other platforms. This would make it more difficult for P-Matics because we would have to make sure that patient’s records are safe and secured. If this is done, it would lead to growing concern among patients. As more technology is advancing, a stronger cyber-security has to be put in place as well.  

EXTERNAL FACTORS: PRIORITIZED LIST

Prior to September 11, 2001, insurance and health care companies where exploring different tools for clients insurability and easy accessibility. This also happened to be the dot com era.  The World Wide Web was becoming widely in use and cell phones also became popularized during this time. The threat of terrorism gave the government control in safe-guarding people’s security. Everything we watch and do online is being monitored is any suspicion of affiliation to a terrorist organization. However, the integration into world wide web almost makes every searches and internet updates we make to be easily searchable on line. Unforeseen future threat would only give the government a greater access to our personal data which could be used for other things.

Governments pass laws, which influences the connection between the firm and its purchasers, suppliers, and other organizations. The federal government is in charge for shielding the general public interest. Government movements have an effect on the monetary environment and finally the government is a main purchaser of items and services and it is thus a major factor to consider for a successful sector in this case the insurance sector.

The insurance and health care business is a complex and competitive enterprise that relies on many interconnected social motives. Although insurance businesses have fiscal obligations, akin to addressing claims, issuing policies and performing underwriting tasks, the social part of the trade is simply as essential. Insurance sellers ought to possess robust social and interpersonal talents so they can with ease promote their products and services. Connecting with clients is one of the most major social motives in the insurance and health care business. Platforms on the Social Media have transformed the best way insurance firms market their insurance policies and protection options and try to keep robust reputations with consumers. Many insurance retailers use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to enchantment to buyers and unfold the phrase about their services (2016).

EXTERNAL FACTORS: READINESS

It is imperative for health care to become adaptable to accessibility of technology. Patients do not have to wait longer to receive their information. Organizations that adapt to the time are the best in serving consumers. Health organizations that maximize the use of technology through apps, would be ahead of other health organization that have been slow to adaptability.  Accessibility is major factor in improving health informatics. Health Informatics applications would provide that easy accessibility to all patients.

There would have to be a fraud and cyber-security team that would have to focus patient security. The Cyber-security would also work closed with the FBI and CIA in a situation that there is a bridge in security.  Recently, Facebook had to face scrutiny due to propaganda advertisements paid for by foreign entities. Facebook had to develop a cyber-security watchdog under the over-sight of the United States government. Patient’s information security is an important factor of the P-Matic App. In a situation whereby hacking ever occurs, P-Matics would have to take extreme measures to solidify its security. At the beginning phase, only P-Matics would only have a privacy and cyber-security department that would have an over-sight on patient’s information privacy. If there is any need at any time to partner with the government, P-Matics will be able to.

INTRAPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES

In recent years, there is an increasing demand for entrepreneurship, innovation and future thinking.  There is a rapid growth of start-ups because entrepreneurs realized a need for community and exchange of ideas. Silicon Valley has become known as the haven for start-ups. There is also a greater demand for companies to diversity and to become global brands.  Companies can look inward and develop entrepreneurs or look to partner with other organizations driven by entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are meant to drive innovation within a company while entrepreneurs drive innovation independently. Intrapreneurs would be considered similarly to project managers within a functional matrix company but with more autonomy. Intrapreneurs utilizes the same tools and techniques for innovation as entrepreneurs and project managers.  Just like project managers, Entrepreneurs, initiate, plan, execute, monitor and control, and close a project to produce a new product. The market chosen to be researched is on health care and technology. The product to be evaluated is P-Matics, a fictitious app that combines applications and health informatics. P-Matics would be a model product that would help patient’s accessibility to information. As a specialist currently working in disability claims and finance, P-Matics would also be evaluated on how it can update clients on regular basis of their disability and FMLA status. There are patients who are permanently out of the workforce due to health issues and lack of information to their health history. Unfortunately, health-care falls behind in informing patients of their health history and records due to lapse in technological accessibility for patients. The P-Matics intrapreneur would have to develop a market domain for the product. A market domain is defined as “a segment of a broader industry with a focus or target of meeting a particular need in the marketplace.”  There is a major lapse in patient accessibility in health care. So much has changed in business in providing accessibility to consumers. Amazon, google and Facebook have changed consumerist approach to access of information. There is an app for every consumer needs out there.  People can easily shop online at the tips of their fingers. Healthcare has been slow to adapt to the rapidly changing economy. The App P-Matics, which is a derivative of patient data and informatics would help patients in getting all data information integrated into one app systems.

INTRAPRENEURIAL ASSESSMENT

P-Matics Intrapreneur would have to pass thru HIPAA regulation before the App can be implement. The regulations set by HIPAA limits the ability of such applications like P-Matics.  To provide an app platform like P-Matics, it would require verification of secured data sharing on the application. In the era of hackers, especially from foreign counties, the legislation on data privacy has become stricter in United States. This would be a limitation from competitors who are innovating similar applications.  P-Matics intrapreneur would also have to evaluate the security aspect of the app global platform. There would have to be a fraud and cyber-security team that would have to focus patient security. The Cyber-security would also work closed with the FBI and CIA in a situation that there is a bridge in security.  Recently, Facebook had to face scrutiny due to propaganda advertisements paid for by foreign entities. Facebook had to develop a cyber-security watchdog under the over-sight of the United States government. Patient’s information security is an important factor of the P-Matic App.  In a situation whereby hacking ever occurs, P-Matics Intrapreneurs would have to take extreme measures to solidify its security. At the beginning phase, only P-Matics would only have a privacy and cyber-security department that would have an over-sight on patient’s information privacy. If there is any need at any time to partner with the government, P-Matics will be able to.

ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES

           To be successful as an entrepreneurs, it is imperative to think and act as scientists, politicians and Olympians (BAILEY, 2018). As a scientist, the entrepreneur would have to create a hypothesis and then design the experiments to test the hypothesis (BAILEY, 2018). Scientists are very skilled in breaking complex problems into constituent parts and evaluating each part. Entrepreneurs are expected to be relentlessly curious about the product that they are innovating. As a politician, Entrepreneurs are expected to build coalitions and gather support around teams, ideas and innovations (BAILEY, 2018). As a politician, entrepreneurs would have to be able to persuade others on the merit of their cause.  Entrepreneur would have to learn to build a momentum behind their ideas. Thirdly as an Olympian, Entrepreneurs would have to be resilient and tenacious ((BAILEY, 2018). Entrepreneurs train hard and are experts in their domain. Entrepreneurs would have to learn to accept accountability and pursue to be the best (BAILEY, 2018).

                                   What makes intrapreneurs different from entrepreneurs, are the autonomy and management support that are recognized as being conducive to intrapreneurial behavior which is a pre-requisite to succeed as an intrapreneur (Smith, 2016).  It is imperative for health care to become adaptable to accessibility of technology. Entrepreneur for P-matics would have to maximize the autonomy to develop a model for P-Matics. Patients do not have to wait longer to receive their information. Organizations that adapt to the time are the best in serving consumers. Health organizations that maximize the use of technology through apps, would be ahead of other health organization that have been slow to adaptability.  

ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSESSMENT

P-Matics Entrepreneur would have to pass thru HIPAA regulation before the App can be implement. The regulations set by HIPAA limits the ability of such applications like P-Matics.  To provide an app platform like P-Matics, it would require verification of secured data sharing on the application. In the era of hackers, especially from foreign counties, the legislation on data privacy has become stricter in United States. This would be a limitation from competitors who are innovating similar applications.

In addition, there is a growing demand of medical products and services. The current US market value of medical products and services cost $3 trillion.  Health product like glucometer is a blood pressure measuring machine.  Companies can market its medical products and services by starting a chain of stores and hospitals. Companies like Amazon, are already exploring chain stores and stores. Looking into the name and goodwill of the company the patients will be attracted and a good volume of business can be attained in initial years of its operations. The requirement of advance medical facilities is growing all over the world and people are getting more cautious for their health. The countries that are in developing stage can also be a good market for the company. The Asian Countries such as China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia are high on population and have a high demand of good medical facilities. After establishing business in American countries the company can also extend its medical business in the South American and Asian countries. P-matics would be easily marketable in many countries around the world. Thus, getting involved into the business of medical products and services will be the best alternative as compared to other available opportunities. The company is in good financial situation and can use its surplus money in establishing medical products and services as a new line of business.

TRENDS

Entrepreneurs would help to analyze the range of services of a company based on domestic services, special services and international services (Kadlubek, 2016). These services are influenced by the political factors, economic factors, and social factors and technological; factors ((Kadlubek, 2016).   Entrepreneurs can easily evaluate competitors and develop a long-term accessibility for patients.  People can easily access their medical records and history at the tips of their fingers.

IMPACT ON OPPORTUNITIES

Governments pass laws, which influences the connection between the firm and its purchasers, suppliers, and other organizations. The federal government is in charge for shielding the general public interest. Government movements have an effect on the monetary environment and finally the government is a main purchaser of items and services and it is thus a major factor to consider for a successful sector in this case the insurance sector. The new challenges of our time, calls for innovation and creativity in issues of insurance and health care, as it is a field that can reignite its profits, by forecasting the new and unforeseen challenges. This will allow the companies to eke it large by the being adaptable and timely in manner and application. To conclude therefore the sector that P-Matics, is involved in is a business of numerous changes and adaptability, but the challenges are in themselves an impetus for the innovation and creativity.

P-Matics entrepreneur would also have to evaluate the security aspect of the app global platform. There would have to be a fraud and cyber-security team that would have to focus patient security. The Cyber-security would also work closed with the FBI and CIA in a situation that there is a bridge in security.  Recently, Facebook had to face scrutiny due to propaganda advertisements paid for by foreign entities. Facebook had to develop a cyber-security watchdog under the over-sight of the United States government. Patient’s information security is an important factor of the P-Matic App. In a situation whereby hacking ever occurs, P-Matics Entrepreneurs would have to take extreme measures to solidify its security. At the beginning phase, only P-Matics would only have a privacy and cyber-security department that would have an over-sight on patient’s information privacy. If there is any need at any time to partner with the government, P-Matics will be able to.

 IMPACT ON SUSTAINABILITY

The present and future of medical products and services is good and is expected to touch new heights as new as well as established companies are marching ahead for creation of products and services for next generation (Kauffman, 2015). Surveys conducted by several companies reveal that a number of customers are ready to abort traditional care for better and more convenient alternatives. It also reveals that customers prefer to choose retail options or at home options as compared to medical conditions (Kauffman, 2015). They rely much on self-diagnosing methodology as compared to visiting doctor’s clinic or hospitals. Kauffman, V. & Tsouderos, T. (February, 2015), was of the opinion that “Within a decade, the health business will look and feel much more like other consumer-oriented, technology-enabled industries. It will have its own Amazon-style, iconic brands-companies that give consumers an easy way to access information, doctors, and treatments; provide them with a variety of services and products at a variety of prices; and centralize their care through user-friendly interfaces.”

Entrepreneur would help to analyze the range of services of a company based on domestic services, special services and international services (Kadlubek, 2016).  These services are influenced by the political factors, economic factors, and social factors and technological; factors (Kadlubek, 2016).   Entrepreneurs can easily evaluate competitors and develop a long-term accessibility for patients (Kadlubek, 2016).   The sustainability of the opportunity cannot be suspected. The investment in medical products and services will increase in US and in the world. P-matics would also focus on the market of South American and Asian countries where the countries are in developing stage and they are much concerned about the health of their citizens. The population in these countries is increasing with a rapid pace and it is expected that company can look forward for a long term sustainability in these countries (Kadlubek, 2016).

 Work Cited Page

Bailey, C., Rosenbaugh, J., & Jones, K. T. (2018). Three characteristics for corporate intrapreneurs. Industrial Management, 60(4), 10–15. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&AN=130596149&site=eds-live&scope=site

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.b). Annual inflation rate in the United States from 1990 to 2016. In Statista d- The Statistics Portal. Retrieved October 12, 2017, from https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/statistics/191077/inflation-rate-in-the-usa-since-1990/

Dr. Muhammad Riaz Shad. (2018). Cyber Threat in Interstate Relations: Case of US-Russia Cyber Tensions. Policy Perspectives: The Journal of the Institute of Policy Studies, 15(2), 41. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.13169/polipers.15.2.0041

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Soonhwan, L., Seungmo, K., & Suosheng, W. (2017). Motivation factors influencing intention of

KADŁUBEK, M. (2016). The Analysis of the Impact of Macro-environmental Factors on Management of Logistics Service Provided by the Selected Company. Valahian Journal of Economic Studies, 7(3), 23–30. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&AN=122001946&site=eds-live&scope=site

Kauffman, V. & Tsouderos, T. (February, 2015). The Future of Health Is More, Better, Cheaper.

Retrieved from: http://www.strategy-business.com/article/00302?gko=ffe4d

Milliard M., (2018) “Cleveland Clinic puts HER data onto iphone with Apple Health Records” HealthcareIT News

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Taylor, N. F. (2016, Apr 1). SWOT Analysis: What It Is and When to Use It. Business Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4245-swot-analysis.html.

[edisonashley]

AKPATA MAKES PROMISE TO NIGERIAN LAWYERS IN LETTER, OUTLINES ACHIEVEMENTS AS SBL CHAIR

With only six days to what is poised to be the most keenly contested NBA national elections in the last decade, frontline Presidential candidate, Olumide Akpata, has written to lawyers across Nigeria in this third of the series of letters he has written in the last few weeks. In this letter, he outlines his track record of producing positive and verifiable results for the legal profession while serving as Chairman of the NBA Section of Business Law. His letter reads:

“In the last few weeks, I have written a number of letters to you outlining some of the plans and policies that I want to pursue should I, with your support, become the President of the NBA. In making these promises, I am encouraged by the fact that in other capacities that I have been fortunate to lead, I discharged, with the support of my team, most of the plans that we set out to achieve, and like Mark Spitz said, past performance speaks a tremendous amount about one’s ability and likelihood for success.

In addition to the successes recorded in other offices that I have been privileged to hold, a recent and relevant example of my stewardship at the Bar is my time as Chairman of the Section on Business Law of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA-SBL”) from 2016 to 2018. In that capacity, with the support of the Council and members of the NBA-SBL, our administration, in delivering on its mandate, was able to achieve the following in our two-year term:

Law Reform Initiatives – established a partnership with the National Assembly, Nigerian Economic Summit Group and UK Department for International Development to create the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) as a platform for the legislature and the private sector to engage and take action on a comprehensive review of several policies, laws and legislative instruments affecting businesses in Nigeria.

Ease of Doing Business – collaborating with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on the ease of doing business which involved the review of extant laws and regulations that moved Nigeria several points upwards on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index.

Monitoring Progress at MDAs – monitoring, in partnership with PEBEC, the productivity and response time of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (including the CAC) on various tasks and taking actions on a framework that will improve Nigeria’s business environment.

Enhancing Inclusiveness – inaugurated the Corporate Counsel Committee for in-house counsel to ensure inclusiveness. We also created the position of NBA-SBL Zonal Officers (North, East and West) with the appointment of respective officers for each zone to mobilise membership and collaborate with NBA Branches across the country. This was intended to decentralise the activities of the NBA-SBL and help ensure that some of the NBA-SBL programmes were taken to other cities outside of Lagos and Abuja.

Preparing for the Future – established NBA-SBL Clubs in six universities across the six geopolitical zones to expand the horizon of law students and enable them, to develop appropriate foundational level interest in contemporary areas of law practice that will make them more useful to clients and the economy.

Capacity Building – organised, in partnership with the International Bar Association, a free training for over 100 young lawyers on the fundamentals of International Legal Business Practice; provided a scholarship to 50 young lawyers to enable them participate in a specially designed training on “Medicine, Accountability and Law” at which the young participants were exposed to the ethical and legal implications of aspects of medical practice in Nigeria; and organised a-2-day Business Development Workshop facilitated by a UK Consultant for all categories of lawyers.

Encouraging Specialised Competencies and Knowledge Development – sponsored 70 young lawyers across Nigeria to attend the 2017 Annual Business Law Conference of the NBA-SBL to enable them network, develop knowledge, build useful professional relationships and become more commercially aware. Also organised different sessions focused on impact of disruptive technology on the practice of law, globalisation and the prospects of open borders on the provision of legal services, building business development skills for lawyers and leveraging technology to improve service delivery, law firm management and professional development.

Encouraging Practical Legal Training – set the stage for the establishment of a three-month intensive commercial law practice academy for interested lawyers to be taught the finer and practical points of emerging but extremely relevant areas of law which the market needs. Also developed a Business Law Competency Framework (which was recently launched by the current NBA-SBL Council) to enable business lawyers to know and gauge what is expected of them at their various levels in terms of soft skills, technical skills, and general legal competencies and to enable them chart and develop their career path.

Expanding the Frontiers of Law Practice – created several additional subject-matter specific committees actively focused on new areas of legal practice with each committee organising capacity building programmes across the country.

Partnership and Scholarship for Further Education – instituted a scholarship programme called the “SBL Scholars Programme” in partnership with the Indiana University School of Law, USA to assist young lawyers to pursue an LL.M program at the institution.

Protecting the Lawyers’ Business to Increase Earning Capacity – set up a Task Force to determine the scope of legal work that is statutorily prescribed to be the exclusive preserve of Nigerian lawyers and to work out modalities for enforcing such laws.

Impactful Conferences – organised two world-class NBA-SBL Conferences with incisive and enriching sessions, knowledge exchange and extensive networking opportunities.

These milestones that we were able to achieve in my two years in office give credence to the fact that with commitment, availability, political will, institutional support, membership backing and deliberate planning, a two-year term is sufficient to make significant and long-lasting impact. I believe that with your support for me as President of the NBA, we can achieve more at the level of the larger Bar.

My full manifesto provides further details on how we will achieve my plans for the NBA. Also, if you haven’t already done so, I also encourage you to complete your verification on the NBA website.

Please accept the assurances of my best regards and continue to have a productive and pleasant week.

OLUMIDE AKPATA”

The post AKPATA MAKES PROMISE TO NIGERIAN LAWYERS IN LETTER, OUTLINES ACHIEVEMENTS AS SBL CHAIR appeared first on Lawyard.

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[xgdesigners]

Final Game Aesthetics, Mechanics and Dynamics

Our last step is to re-examine the MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research so we can discuss any final thoughts concerning the framework of the game.

Mechanics: 

Recollection has been built in Unity, using the Fungus library. Fungus makes use of flowcharts and facilitates narrative game play. 

Each scene in the game (e.g. kitchen, bathroom) has its own separate workflow. Within each workflow there are blocks, which contain say commands (for narrating a story), or menu commands (e.g. calling other blocks or workflows).

Some blocks also contain variables (bedroom objects such as jumper, phone, book, necklace). These variables are of different types e.g. boolean, integer, etc.    

The blocks and flowcharts are traversed according to the order they’ve been set in. This facilitated the narrative theme.

The internal mechanics of the game can be seen in the screenshots (it displays all the workflows and blocks).

Dynamics:

Bedroom

In the bedroom there are objects (jumper, necklace, phone, book). These objects are clickable. Once they are clicked a backstory of the object is relayed. Once all objects are clicked once, this activates the next set of say commands. After this finished, the next scene (bathroom) is displayed.

Bathroom

Similarly, in the bathroom there are objects (medicine, toothbrush, cologne). Once they are clicked a backstory is displayed. The toothbrush also has a flashback.

Kitchen

Similarly, in the kitchen there are objects (laptop, coffee cup, photoframe). Once they are clicked a backstory is displayed. The laptop and coffee cup also have a flashbacks.

Garden

No objects from here on till the end, however the say commands need to be clicked, in order to carry on the game. 

Aesthetics:

We intended for Recollection to be an opportunity for players to reflect upon the experience of heartbreak- Goodbyes hurt when the story is not finished and the book has been closed.

Referring back to the taxonomy we applied to the game in a much earlier blog post, we can now see that each aesthetic goal is achieved to varying levels inline with which emotions we wanted to evoke the most.

One example of this is that the narrative of the game (A story that drives the player to keep coming back) is more intense than the challenge aesthetic, as there is nothing to master. It is the narrative that encourages Recollection’s replayability and not its obstacles.

Furthermore, discovery is still an important part of the game, as both the narrative and each scene in the game is uncharted territory which unlocks sensation, letting the player enjoy audio and visual effects. With each scene reflecting a stage of loss (denial and isolation, sadness, frustration and bargaining and finally acceptance), we hope to encourage reflection and emotional investment thus in turn, connection to the game as a whole, which brings us to a closing aesthetic of submission.

[edgamescrit]

Critique 3: Oh Noah- Curtain Up!

Basic Information

The name of the game is Curtain Up!, and the link to play this game can be found here: https://pbskids.org/noah/games/curtainup/. Developed by PBS Kids, this game is a series of “Oh Noah!” series which teaches players various Spanish phrases with English instructions. In particular, Curtain Up aims to teach basic daily Spanish vocabulary targeted to elementary school students. This can be played on any online browser, such as Safari and Google Chrome.

Brief Description

Curtain Up! is an educational game that allows players to create different theater scenarios using various objects like house furniture, plants, animals and characters while familiarizing them with basic Spanish vocabulary and phrases. This is not a typical game where the player tries to move on to various rounds or beat the game to the end, but more so of a game that provides a player-centric experience, where the player gets what he makes out of it. In the beginning, the player has to pick a certain background, ranging from the nature to the city landscape, which is where the show takes place.

Step 1: Pick a background, where the “show” would take place.

Once the background is chosen, the player can choose props, ranging from various household furnitures to nature items. He can choose whatever he wants and change the formatting of the object (size, rotation, position) as needed. Whenever a prop is chosen, a Spanish phrase is shown. In this case, when the truck is chosen, the Spanish phrase “el camion” is shown and also played out loud for pronunciation.

Step 2: Choose props that will decorate the stage.

Next, the player can choose players that will ultimately “act” in the show. Whenever a character is chosen to the stage, it plays a certain phrase in Spanish. In this case, the girl character below said “Noah, I want a red balloon” in Spanish. Before the show is finalized, players can click the “Watch” button on the bottom right hand corner to see the interactions between the characters.

Step 3: Choose characters that will be starred.

Before the show is completely finalized, players can choose the title and introduction music of the show from the 8 options given. This is a minor part of the game that adds a more realistic attribute to the production of the show. Once these are chosen, the player can see the final production with the audience.

Step 4: Showtime!

Learning Objectives

Prior Knowledge

In order to play this game, students need to know basic English so that they can interpret directions, and also know the relationship between English and Spanish phrases. Students should know how to create, build things and understand the basic concept of putting together a show, so that they know a show is not a random thing one creates, but rather a polished presentation of an interesting story.

Materials Learned

By playing Curtain Up!, students will learn various Spanish vocabulary and phrases and learn to come up with a creative story or scenario flow through trial and error. Vocabulary is enforced when players are choosing props that are used in the show, like chair, lamp, mirror, bushes, and others. Phrases are taught when players are choosing characters that will star in the show, since a unique phrase is associated with each of the characters. For example, a little girl who is chosen to star would say, “Noah, I want a red balloon” in Spanish. In addition to learning Spanish, the player would learn to create a fun scene, so that the play would look more vibrant. However, it is really up to the player to make the most out of the show- technically, the player can select little as 1 prop and 1 character to create a final play if he wanted to.

Knowledge Transfer

By learning more Spanish, the player would improve their Spanish skills, especially when identifying the meanings of words and basic phrases (not particularly writing). This game doesn’t provide anything related to grammar, so this game would improve the Spanish skills of a beginner level player. In real life, the player would be able to recognize some words and speak fragmented Spanish phrases that they learned in this game, and possibly, have a very basic conversation. This game might also help in building a better foundation when formally learning Spanish in a classroom setting.

Mechanics, Dynamics, & Aesthetics

Mechanics

The main character that facilitates the game (Noah), various objects at each phase of creation of the final stage (backgrounds, props and characters) and Spanish phrases shown and played throughout the game are the three mechanics that drive the game and deliver the goal of the game.

Dynamics

Moving on to the next step after each selection and the ability to customize the final performance as a way of self-expression are two main dynamics present in the game. Unfortunately, I feel like this game lacks a lot of crucial dynamics that make an educational game successful, like competition and time limit.

Aesthetics

Discovery and expression are two aesthetics of this game. Player continues to discover various vocabulary and phrases associated with the objects they choose to place in their show, and throughout the process of creating their show, he can self-express by having the freedom to place whichever object anywhere. There are no constraints as to the “right” button to click or which way to go next- he can express how he wants his show to look freely. In a way, it’s similar to Minecraft’s aesthetic of expression.

Learning Principles

Three learning principles relevant to the game are:

Spacing - Between prop selection and character selection, there is a small time gap where the user can learn the words or the phrases. In addition, once the user finishes creating his final stage, he can click “Watch” to see a preview of how it is going to sound on the actual stage. After, user can see the show in entirety, after some time gap. The spacing that happens mainly twice in the game allows for knowledge absorption.

Scaffolding - The main sequence to this game is that at first, the player is introduced to certain vocabulary through prop selection, and then is introduced to bigger and longer phrases through character selection. By sequencing from short to longer phrases, the content is enriched and is strengthened towards the higher goal of Spanish language education.

Segmenting - Although this is not an obvious learning principle one can see in the game, segmenting plays a huge role as a learning principle. Not only does it segment the game into vocabulary (through prop selection) and phrases (through character selection), but it also groups similar objects next to each other in each of these selections. For example, when a player attempts to select a prop, he can see that similar items, like household furniture (refrigerator, couch, table, chair, etc) are together, and the other items, like nature (tree, bush, flower, etc) are together. Segmenting similar objects can help the player understand the information in chunks and relate them to each other.

Synthesis and Critique

The EDGE framework displays components of a successful educational game, which are the game's educational objectives, MDA incorporation, and instructional design principles. I believe that Curtain Up! Is not a good example of an educational game. Based on my critique, it does not incorporate deeper learning principles nor have sound design and aesthetics in particular. I think this game could be improved if there were more dynamics like competition, moving on to next rounds, or reward aspect, that would incentivize the player to create a new, improved stage play every time. As per aesthetics, the game severely lacks challenge, which I believe is an important aspect of any educational game. Players would only learn something if it is difficult and has at least some challenge to the game. In Curtain Up!, the player faces the same result (which is just being able to watch their creation) after a performance- it doesn’t matter if the player has a lot of props or characters on-stage. If there was some kind of point system that an audience gives you for your play, this game would achieve its educational goal a whole lot efficiently and successfully.

[craigbrownphd-blog-blog]

R Packages worth a look

High Dimensional Bayesian Mediation Analysis (bama) Perform mediation analysis in the presence of high-dimensional mediators based on the potential outcome framework. Bayesian Mediation Analysis (BAMA), developed by Song et al (2018) , relies on two Bayesian sparse linear mixed models to simultaneously analyze a relatively large number of mediators for a continuous exposure and outcome assuming a small number of mediators are truly active. This sparsity assumption also allows the extension of univariate mediator analysis by casting the identification of active mediators as a variable selection problem and applying Bayesian methods with continuous shrinkage priors on the effects. Generative Neural Networks (gnn) Tools to set up, train, store, load, investigate and analyze generative neural networks. In particular, functionality for generative moment matching networks is provided. See Hofert, Prasad, Zhu (2018) for more details. Plot Raster Graphics in PDF Files (rasterpdf) The ability to plot raster graphics in PDF files can be useful when one needs multi-page documents, but the plots contain so many individual elements that (the usual) use of vector graphics results in inconveniently large file sizes. Internally, the package plots each individual page as a PNG, and then combines them in one PDF file. Tuning for ‘mlr3’ (mlr3tuning) Implements methods for hyperparameter tuning with ‘mlr3’, e.g. Grid Search, Random Search, or Simulated Annealing. Various termination criteria can be set and combined. The class ‘AutoTuner’ provides a convenient way to perform nested resampling in combination with ‘mlr3’. Statistical Modelling in Action with R (ModStatR) Datasets and functions for the book ‘Modélisation statistique par la pratique avec R’, F. Bertrand, E. Claeys and M. Maumy-Bertrand (2019, ISBN:9782100793525, Dunod, Paris). The first chapter of the book is dedicated to an introduction to the R statistical software. The second chapter deals with correlation analysis: Pearson, Spearman and Kendall simple, multiple and partial correlation coefficients. New wrapper functions for permutation tests or bootstrap of matrices of correlation are provided with the package. The third chapter is dedicated to data exploration with factorial analyses (PCA, CA, MCA, MDA) and clustering. The fourth chapter is dedicated to regression analysis: fitting and model diagnostics are detailed. The exercises focus on covariance analysis, logistic regression, Poisson regression, two-way analysis of variance for fixed or random factors. Various example datasets are shipped with the package: for instance on pokemon, world of warcraft, house tasks or food nutrition analyses. http://bit.ly/2NZwnPd