Mobiles games to spread climate change message
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New Delhi: ZMQ Software Systems has developed an innovative methodology to educate people on climate change using mobile devices and gaming.
ZMQ has collaborated with TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) - a non-profit autonomous research organisation deeply committed towards environment, energy and various aspects of sustainable development, to jointly launch mobile phone games to create public awareness on climate change under the initiative ”Connect-2-Climate”. Dr R K Pachauri, Director General of TERI and co-recipient of 2007 Nobel Prize for Peace and Understanding on behalf of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Shri Kamalnath, Union Minister of Industry and Commerce, Government of India launched the games in the Indian Capital on May 31, 2008. The games will be made available on leading mobile operator Reliance Communications from June 5, 2008 - World Environment Day. Green games Connect-2-Climate aims to reach out to the common man by using the incredible power of mobile and other Information, Communication Technologies (ICTs) by creating mass awareness about environment, climate change and related issues through games and learning applications. In the first phase of Connect-2-Climate, three exciting mobile games are being launched on Reliance Mobile World, targeting different mindsets, psychology and strata of mobile phone users. The initiative is also in active collaborative partnership of Intel Corporation and Philips Lightings. Reliance Communications is committed to spreading environmental awareness through its mobile platform. The games will be made available exclusively on Reliance Mobile World and will be free for users to download. One of the games, “DeCarbonator” is an edutainment game encouraging people to reduce their carbon footprint by employing eco-friendly methods in life and developing sustainable habits like using cloth/ jute bags, avoiding disposable items, consuming fewer tetra pack, planting more trees to preserve nature, using public transport instead of personal transport, switching off engine at the red signals, using lead free petrol, opting for renewable energy resources and so on. Another game, “Mission Lighting” is an adventure game aimed at common man to make a smart choice by choosing energy efficient products, which can have a direct impact on climate change. The third game, “Polar Teddy Quiz” is a quiz-based game inviting users who have a bent of mind more towards questioning and reasoning. The second phase of Connect-2-Climate will launch two serious mobile learning applications on climate change, namely Green Energy Expo – a mobile learning tool about various renewable energies and Climate Change Mobi-book – a mobile handbook to understand climate change, its causes and consequences and how sustainable habits can slow them down. Reaching out to millions Also, under the initiative in the second phase, the games will be translated into many vernacular languages to reach out to the grassroots communities through Reliance Mobile World. During the launch, Pachauri said, “Mobile games on climate change awareness are ideally suited for youth and children. It is from there that the change is going to come”. Speaking during the launch of the initiative, Hilmi Quraishi, Project Director, Connect-2-Climate said, “It is our corporate social responsibility to use latest technologies that enable us to reach out to millions on one click of a button”. “Connect-2-Climate is yet another important initiative through which we hope to spread the awareness of environmental conservation among the vast Indian population. Reliance Mobile World, with its reach cutting across more than 4 lakh villages and over 20, 000 towns, offers a unique opportunity to spread environmental awareness using latest technologies”, remarked Mahesh Prasad, President, Applications Solutions and Content Group (ASCG), Reliance Communications Limited. Commenting on the occasion Murali Sivaraman, CEO, Philips Electronics India Ltd said, “At Philips, we always try to explore innovative platforms to spread awareness around Energy Efficiency. The mobile game is one such initiative to reach out to the youth in India, who we believe can play an important role in addressing global challenges such as climate change.” For further details contact: Hilmi Quraishi Project Director – Connect-2-Climate ZMQ Software Systems Tel: +91-9871981960 Email: hilmi@zmq.in; zmq@vsnl.com |
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