Sea Hero Quest: Revolutionising Dementia Research Through Gaming

Designing the Data Collection API

I played a key role in the development of the Sea Hero Quest reboot project by designing the database and writing the API that collected game data. This API made the data accessible to a back-end GUI, allowing researchers to easily analyse and visualise the information gathered from players. The integration of the API into the system enabled seamless data management and facilitated real-time data analysis for cognitive and spatial navigation research.

The Legacy of Sea Hero Quest

Sea Hero Quest is a groundbreaking mobile game that has made significant contributions to dementia research by collecting data on spatial navigation abilities. The game, developed in collaboration with game developers GLITCHERS, University College London, the University of East Anglia, and web developers BoldLight, has helped scientists understand how spatial navigation skills change as we age.

How Sea Hero Quest Is Used in Research

Initially launched as a free consumer game, Sea Hero Quest attracted an impressive 4.3 million players and generated over 117 years of total gameplay. Although the consumer version is no longer available, the game’s immense data set continues to be invaluable to researchers studying cognition and spatial navigation, particularly in the context of dementia.

A Customisable Research Tool

To support ongoing studies, a bespoke version of Sea Hero Quest has been developed for researchers. This version allows scientists to create and manage prospective studies, collecting real-time data through a centralised platform. By leveraging the game’s engaging and scientifically valuable design, researchers can gather insights that would typically take centuries of traditional laboratory work to accumulate.

Why Sea Hero Quest Matters

Addressing Dementia’s Greatest Challenge

One of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is difficulty with spatial navigation. Identifying and understanding how these deficits evolve is essential for early diagnosis and intervention. Unfortunately, traditional methods of studying spatial navigation are often time-consuming and limited in scope.

Sea Hero Quest changes this by offering a scalable, engaging, and data-rich alternative. With data from players of all ages and backgrounds worldwide, the game creates a global benchmark for spatial navigation abilities, helping scientists better understand healthy aging and the progression of cognitive decline.

The Impact of Sea Hero Quest Data

The data collected from Sea Hero Quest equates to 176 centuries of traditional research, allowing scientists to analyse spatial navigation on an unprecedented scale. This data is not only helping to identify early signs of cognitive decline but also paving the way for more accurate diagnostic tools.

Research with Sea Hero Quest

Sea Hero Quest is available for both Apple and Android devices. Whether investigating dementia, cognition, or spatial navigation, this innovative tool offers the data collection potential needed for impactful research. This unique game-based platform and contribute to the future of dementia diagnosis and treatment.