Chinese business culture starts innovative learning
A computer game designed to help people understand the unique business culture in China is acting as a springboard to evolve the way we learn.
Ideonic, a digital media development studio based in the Institute of Digital Innovation (IDI), has designed a revolutionary new way to teach language and culture through computer games technology.
The vision of Ideonic is that computer games will become one of the main mediums of education and training.
Immerse yourself in language and culture
To demonstrate its concept, Ideonic created a playable demo which teaches westerners the skills and knowledge they need to succeed when doing business in China, including a basic command of the Mandarin language.
The prototype immerses the user in a 3D environment where they interact with realistic characters and take part in true to life business scenarios. This allows the user to absorb the language and culture in an enjoyable and non-stressful way.
Ideonic will use the prototype to help secure funding to develop further learning solutions.
Collaboration the key to success
The Collaborative Innovation Partnership (CIP) brought together Cora Shih, who graduated from Teesside University in Computer Games Design, Fred Charles, Principal Lecturer in Visualisation at Teesside and Jeremiah Alexander, Ideonic's Managing Director.
Using the combined expertise from Jeremiah, Fred and Cora, the successful prototype was developed which demonstrates the purpose of the original concept – to teach people Chinese etiquettes and learn Chinese in speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Ideonic now has a comprehensive prototype which can demonstrate its product concept to potential customers, collaborators and investors.
Jeremiah Alexander said: ‘The CIP programme allowed us to gain the academic expertise and the highly skilled worker we needed to develop one of our key game concepts into a comprehensive prototype.’
