AI comic app to make kids media savvy
A CREATIVE NEW WAY TO HELP OUR CHILDREN PROTECT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH
A GROUND-BREAKING new childfriendly app will use AI to foster mental wellbeing and positive media habits among its young users.
Set for release this week, ‘Aileen’, is integrated with a 10-part, comedy scifi adventure podcast, A2Z, written by former comic book Laureate, Hannah Berry.
It’s been designed with help from psychologists and experts in child development and mental health for children aged seven to 10. It features pop-out activities which draw kids away from their devices and into the real-world, along with story-based games, quests, and conversations.
A2Z is the brainchild of the team behind children’s podcast, The Rez, headed up by Dr Lance Dann and Prof Martin Spinelli.
Dr Lance says: “Technology’s engrained in our lives, so we can’t cut children off from media. But we can create positive experiences that reinforce healthy relationships and instil good habits.”
The app offers missions aligned with each A2Z episode, with the story kicking off by introducing Zzzucks who has invented a new AI called Aileen.
Zzzucks faces various social challenges, so Aileen asks kids to meet her on the app to get their thoughts on how Zzzucks can be happier and more fulfilled. Aileen then gives them a mission with activities to help cultivate positive emotions and life-skills, like learning something new with an adult.
After completing each mission, kids discuss what they did and how it might help them, and are rewarded with games, comic strips, and animations.
The A2Z podcast is distributed by children’s podcast network GZM and the app is free to download from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Technology is engrained in our lives... we can’t cut children off from media... Dr Lance Dann