Client
The DoSeum

Location
San Antonio, United States

Project website
doseum.org

Realisation
2020

Become an Ultra Master Spy

Children break codes, build hide-outs, exchange secret messages and crawl through vents as they complete math-based missions to become Master Spy Academy-agents. New recruits to the academy get a Spy Watch and have to complete five missions before they gain access to Agent Headquarters (HQ). Once they are full agents they can print out their new identity card, and begin earning badges - small steps on the path to becoming a Master Spy. Their ultimate goal is to enter the Spy Hall of Fame! Kiss the Frog provided the interactive back and front-end software for a technology upgrade of the Spy Maker exhibition. The update included concept refinement and co-design together with The DoSeum. Our contribution also included the UX-, interface- and visual design, animation production, software development and on-site installation - including configuration and integration with the hardware.

Visitors start the Spy Game with a short, animated introduction and are assigned their Spy specialization based on three chosen interests. Each screen explains the exhibition and helps them to answer the questions.

Once inside HQ, the visitor creates a Spy Profile including their name, Spy Name, email address and profile photo. They are instructed to scan their Spy Watch to save their progress. To track each Spy Watch and store personal progress and results, we used our in-house software platform Backstage.

Visitors take a personal photo for their Spy Profile using facial recognition technology. They see their face and can choose their own disguise: on their head (hat, flying drone, wig or cap), around their eyes (sunglasses or monocle) and on their face (beard or camouflage).

One of the technical challenges was the integration of RFID scanners, which scan the Spy Watches and link them to the Spy Profiles. Using their Spy Watch, visitors can track their progress and store the missions they have solved.

“Wonderful children’s museum. So many activities. Kids really enjoyed spy area. Stayed till closing.”

Visitor, Tripadvisor review