Discussion between two individuals regarding gamification and its applications.
Mention of the book "Actionable Gamification" by K. Lee.
Emphasized the practical implementation of gamification techniques in real-world applications.
Overview of Gamification in Applications
Speaker's Role
Currently working on a product called Sarthi under the LEAF umbrella.
Sarthi: A platform aimed at helping users increase their net worth from ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 through learning and engagement.
Gamification Techniques Used
Application of various gamification techniques, not just basic ones (like leaderboards, point systems), but also deeper techniques that promote user engagement and inherent virality.
Examples of gamified systems:
LEAF application: Used for sound tests to create personalized earprints, enhancing audio experiences.
Completion Rates: Gamification increased user engagement significantly in the sound test application.
Key Points on Gamification
User Engagement
Engagement can be both from the technology and social interactions between users.
Users compare their performances with others, driving engagement.
Ethical Considerations
Discussion on data privacy in gamified applications, especially when progress is shared socially.
Different geographical contexts impact user willingness to share personal data.
Sarthi's Structure
Learning to Earn: Users are guided step-by-step to increase their net worth through skill development.
Social Features: Users can connect with each other, share rankings, and compare their progress.
Local Leaderboards: Focus on local comparisons rather than global rankings for more relevance.
In-App Currency (Sarthi Coins): Users can earn, trade, and utilize coins, creating a sense of community.
Motivation and User Experience
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Users may be intrinsically motivated (e.g., desire to earn money) or extrinsically motivated (e.g., family influence).
Gamification helps keep users engaged over time, adapting to their changing motivations.
Importance of User Experience
User experience is fundamental at each stage of gamification (trigger, action, reward).
Poor user experience can lead to disengagement, regardless of incentives.
Gamification must be cohesive with the core activity of the application to maintain user interest.
Notifications and User Retention
Notifications should be tailored based on user behavior to bring them back to the application.
Importance of nudges to encourage user interactions without overwhelming them.
Maintaining engagement for users past the initial days requires rebuilding interests and challenges.
Challenges in Gamification
Balancing challenges to avoid demotivation; not everyone can win all the time.
Understanding when users drop off and why to improve retention strategies.
Conclusion
Gamification is not just an add-on but integral to product design for engagement and retention.
The need for a community-based approach where users can create their own needs and motivations through social interactions.
Future Considerations
The discussion points towards the need for further research on the effects of gamification on user engagement and experience.
The speaker's plans for future projects involving gamification and psychological behavior in apps.