System and methods for identifying intrinsic motivators, play profiles and play personalities through captured actions in an online environment

摘要

Techniques are described herein for automatically determining a play personality of a user. Play personalities develop from play type and play patterns, which may be automatically determined by computing devices based on that user/subject's information and actions. Furthermore, in a gaming environment, the play personality of the user/subject may be represented by an avatar, doppelganger, narrative, graphic or iconic depiction. The play personality may be determined based on the avatar or doppelganger's actions, which may include but are not limited to how they respond to questions posed by non-playing characters and/or the avatars or doppelgangers of other users. Once determined, the play personality may be used as a basis for identifying and integrating intrinsic motivators and integrating user-centric design which can alter some aspect of the game environment, such as the appearance of the avatar, or the nature of a quest, or means for identifying or exploring solutions in gamification.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
capturing, using one or more computing devices, information about a user; wherein capturing actions includes at least one of:
determining which type of items are purchased online for the user;determining which type of computer programs are downloaded for or used by the user;determining topics reflected in electronic communications of associated with the user;determining topics reflected in items purchased online for the user;determining to which online social communities the user belongs;determining interests reflected in comments associated with the user in online social applications;determining persons to whom the user is socially connected in online social applications;capturing how an avatar of the user interacts with one or more other characters in an online environment;randomly inserting questions that relate to play personality or intrinsic motivators with other questions presented within an online game environment;capturing one or more images of the user as the user engages in an activity;detecting eye movement of the user as the user engages in an activity;detecting pupil size changes of the user as the user engages in an activity; ormonitoring how the user makes purchases at or interacts with virtual stores or venues; wherein capturing information about the user further comprises presenting an online assessment that includes a series of questions designed to assess at least one of:
a1) which play type, of a plurality of play types, satisfies the user's need for play; orb1) intrinsic motivators of the user; based, at least in part, on the information about the user that is captured using the one or more computing devices, automatically determining at least one of:
a2) a play personality of the user, including:
estimating a degree to which each of the plurality of play types satisfies the user's need for play; anddetermining that one or more particular play types, of the plurality of play types, best satisfy the user's need for play;wherein the plurality of play types includes two or more of: Object, Pretend, Social, Rough and Tumble, Body, Exploratory, Celebratory, Competitive, Ritual, Narrative, Fantasy or Games/Gaming; orb2) intrinsic motivators of the user; storing, in a computer-readable medium, data that reflects at least one of:
a3) the play personality of the user; orb3) intrinsic motivators of the user; and wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.