Gamified working memory test

Brief

Working memory is a cognitive system with a limited capacity that is responsible for temporarily holding information available for processing. It is necessary for reasoning and the guidance of decision-making and behavior. The Corsi block tapping task is a spatial memory test that is mainly independent of verbal maintenance of information. The process of the Corsi block tapping task requires the subject to observe the sequence of blocks "tapped" (or lit up in the computer version), and then repeat the sequence back in order. The task starts with a small number of blocks and gradually increases in length up to nine blocks. The test measures both the number of correct sequences and the longest sequence remembered.

The original illustration of the Corsi apparatus - researchgate.net

Problems

• The task always needed an experimenter to be present.
• Participants have no motivation to redo the task more times.
• The timing has to be highly regular.

Solution

A mobile game would allow the participants to have fun while doing the task and to gather more data from multiple users.

Process

The app’s idea was from my colleague, Júlia Simon. She was responsible for the game mechanics and writing the code. A detective story was made to make the game entertaining.

My role: brainstorming, wireframing, prototyping, UI design.

Tools used:

UX Design

Wireframes present the set of monochrome screens to think over the layout and transitions before considering the appearance style. Here you some of the screens for the game.

The first screen (left to right) features sign in layout, as users have to sign up to play the game. The second screen features the game menu with instructions, play and about sections. Hitting the instruction button, users get the idea about the game mechanics. Hitting play features the play screen with a kindly reminder to the instructions and the story. The game begins after hitting the play button. The bottom part of the screen provides access to instructions, clues, music settings and information about how many rounds left.

UI Design

I made an isometric illustration of a busy city with skyscrapers. Dark-cold color combination were used, mostly based on blue to add the feeling of nighttime. A minimalistic logo was created to make more gamelike the app. Light outlined icons and the Zepton typefont were used to add more sc-fi effect to the game.