Gamification of Tour Experiences with Motivational Intelligent Technologies

SUMMIT is a mobile app that aims to gamify the experience of walkers and hikers and benefit the local communities through which they perambulate. It encourages physical activity through gamification of the user experience by adding additional elements of social fun and motivation to walking and hiking activities. It rewards users for their physical effort by offering access to local resources, hence increasing awareness and appreciation of the local assets and heritage and contributing to the local economy. The evaluation results show that both businesses and walkers were very receptive to the idea. A modified version of SUMMIT, the Science Safari App was implemented in a zoo setting and its potential implications are discussed.