The Future Mobile Games and ELL
Alongside the development of mobile technology rendering the ability to play offline, online, and on the go, the future of mobile games is exciting. As billions of users engage with mobile capabilities, developers are ambitious to penetrate the market with advanced gaming technology, expanding opportunities for game-based learning (GBL).
Breakthroughs in Extended Reality (Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality) as well as in Artificial Intelligence will improve the mobile gaming experience for Language Learners, offering the capability to engage in mobile GBL in more authentic and meaningful ways.
Predictions: Mixed Reality & AI
A notable feature in the success of language learning is Personal Learning Environments (PLE) which allow students to be more involved in their learning (Reinders, 2014). Mixed Reality (VR and AR) along with AI, has the potential to create true PLE; Leading game apps of the future will likely use AI and various forms of MR. In these fully immersive and personalized gaming environments, the learner will be even further challenged to construct knowledge independently, advancing the bridge of formal and informal learning settings, making language learning serious and fun at the same time (Elaish, et al., 2018).
Predictions: AI
AI uses machine learning algorithms to adapt in real-time to learner behaviour. As AI continues to advance, Smart Assistants will be able to construct fluent conversation with language learners, authentic of real-life scenarios, while teaching new words or playing games to help them learn. It may feel as natural as going for coffee and a gab with a friend.
Predictions: 5G
The 5G Network has begun to launch across the globe. Soon, gamers will no longer need gaming consoles to run high-quality games. Instead, they will only need access to a fast internet connection and a mobile device. One more reason why mobile games are the future and why developers of language learning software are keen to lead in the market.
Recently, Hyphonics Edugames has been working to use gamification concepts to develop a mobile app that teaches Arabic as a Second Language through serious play. The game is called Abjad Polis.
On October 1st, 2021, we had an interview with Ahmad Alshamaly, the developer and founder of Abjad Polis, and he explained that the goal of the game is to teach Arabic to non-Arabic speakers in Canada by allowing the player to explore different places in a virtual city and learning thematic vocabulary and grammatical items through interaction with objects and characters.
In order to pass to the next level, the main character goes through fun activities that assess their linguistic competencies. The objective is to colour the city through learning contextualized Arabic words and expressions.
Alshamly says that the game applies AI technology through speech recognition and verbal interaction. The future updates will include competing against real-life players in language games to colour the city faster or overtake other players' cities.