Fortune8 I AR Poker Console
My grandmother moved from China to come live with my family in America when I was a child. Adjusting from the life she always knew to living in America was a difficult transition. Her situation left her feeling lonely as an elder living dependently with her family and she felt powerless in making a positive change on her own accord. Her constant attempts to reach out often went unheard due to the family's busy daily schedules and spent most of her time alone with her treasured deck of playing cards.
Her passing inspired me to study what could be done for elders in similar situations and envision a solution that could bring them closer to with their families.
10% of elders experience some form of neglect or cognitive abuse.
A full-scale 1:1 appearance model was constructed via foam modeling and 3D-print assembly.
This allowed users to analyze the appropriate dimensions and user process for gameplay.
The console is composed of two sections; the lid functions as the main gaming interface and the base houses the playing pieces, AR eyewear and integrated speaker system.
The brand strategy for Fortune8 is a gaming experience that was exciting, familiar and immersive. The name was inspired by the number "8", a symbol of good luck and prosperity across various cultures while the logo paid reverence to casino and poker imagery.
Sustainable hardwood and gold-hued metal were chosen to be the two principal materials as they embody the judicious luxury embedded in poker history. Circular curvatures produced a stylish look that was inspired by gold tokens. The nostalgic green felt of the playing surface is an iconic fixture in environments where card games are dealt.
RFID-encrypted cards and chips transfer game information seamlessly to the mobile player as the elder plays on the console. The selected graphics and materials align with the elder’s preference for nostalgic and luxurious poker aesthetics.
When playing together, both the elder and their loved one are able to create video-game styled avatars to stimulate fun competition.
Via facial recognition, the mobile player’s facial expressions and body movements are translated onto a augmented reality hologram of their avatar viewable through the eyewear.
