Bloombox: A Toolkit for Creating Transformative Tech

Project Lead Category Project status
Bloombox Group Design Tools Recruitment

Creating digital tech—whether it be videogames or apps—that makes a real impact on human flourishing is hard! Luckily, at the GEMH Lab we have amassed many lessons learned, tips, tricks and caveats over the years of our existence. All of which we aim to bring together in the Bloombox: a toolkit for creating transformative tech.

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18-07-2022

Over the recent years, many efforts have been made to create digital tech that benefits humanity. Specifically, as we become aware of the effects that technological changes can have on us, many seek to turn the tide by harnessing the power of digital tech to facilitate wellbeing and flourishing.

Creating solutions with real and lasting impact, however, is no easy task. Over the years, at the GEMH Lab we have worked hard to research and create playful video games for the benefit of young people's wellbeing. We have found that science, design, industry and sometimes clinical settings all need to come together for a digital solution to be most effective. We have made mistakes and learned valuable lessons about the practicalities and necessary mindset to create digital tech for human flourishing, and we are excited that the Templeton World Charity Foundation and McMaster University has given us the opportunity to materialize all of our experiences into a practical, action-oriented toolkit for professionals who seek to do the same as us: create digital technologies for human flourishing.

This toolkit, called the Bloombox, is one of our focal projects in the years to come. We aim to provide designers, artists, developers, scientists and other relevant professionals the tools they need to make their interdisciplinary tech-for-good project successful. To that end, the Bloombox will consist of both tips-n-tricks as well as caveats, as we work to transform our experiences into practical tools to make sure you can capitalize on our successes and mistakes. Additionally, we will provide concrete templates, checklists and planners to create clarity in these often complex projects.

If you yourself work in the tech-for-good sphere, we would love to hear from you about what has and hasn't worked for you in past of current projects. Incorporating real experiences and routines of other professionals is of vital importance to us and will ensure that the Bloombox will in the end be truly useful. We look forward to sharing bits of the Bloombox with you as we build!


Publications

  • Use of the Principles of Design Thinking to Address Limitations of Digital Mental Health Interventions for Youth: Viewpoint

    Scholten, H., & Granic, I. (2019). Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(1), e11528. doi: 10.2196/11528

    Author: Hanneke Scholten

    Upload date: 06-16-2020

  • The Benefits of Playing Video Games

    Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. (2014). American Psychologist, 69, 66-78.

    Author: Isabela Granic

    Upload date: 01-17-2014

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Bloombox Group
Community of Rockstars

A toolkit to create games, products, and services for human flourishing

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"We're not a Collective..."

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E-mail Bloombox