When I was a kid, I spent many happy hours memorizing the colorful lights and sounds of Simon. One of the early handheld electronic games, Simon was both simple and friendly: it would light up one of four colored buttons and play a note, and in response, you would press the same button. Then [...]
Gamification stimulates five hormones that our brains use to regulate emotions, mood, and decisions: Oxytocin: the ‘empathy’ hormone Cortisol: the ’stress’ hormone Endorphin: the ‘euphoria’ hormones Dopamine: the ‘reward’ hormone Serotonin: the ‘balance’ hormone Different gamification techniques trigger specific hormones in our brains. If you understand their physiological effects, and how to stimulate them [...]
Recognition rewards achievement with attention. In the martial arts, a beginner is given a white belt. This belt signifies you are a student of a discipline. Over time (so the legend goes) the belt would get dirty and grimy with the dust of the road and the blood of your enemies. When someone survived [...]