SHIFT
SHIFT is an interactive conversation experience for key workers and people seeking support. During the conversation, they work together to build a visual picture of the future around themes such as housing, work, relationships and leisure time. Physical objects, cards and short interactive mini-games make the conversation more tangible and less dependent on words. SHIFT supports key workers without replacing human contact. The method offers an alternative to the classic intake interview and can help build trust more quickly and tailor support more effectively. Potential users include municipalities, welfare, youth and participation organisations, and educational institutions. Source: public phase 1 summaries, RVO
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EmpathieSim: wandel in de schoenen van kwetsbare burgers
EmpathieSim is an interactive experience that lets key figures feel first-hand what it's like to get stuck in red tape with the government. Participants step into the shoes of a resident who, for example, receives a complicated letter or has to use a website with DigiD. Their choices affect both the outcome and the character's emotions. The solution is aimed at key figures, civil servants and policymakers, and is being developed for municipalities and implementing bodies. Key figures spend a lot of time explaining to the government how complex residents' problems really are, and there's no standard way to train new helpers. By experiencing residents' situations first-hand, users gain a better understanding of where people get stuck. This helps key figures support residents more effectively and helps policymakers create clearer, more understandable rules. During phase 1, Game Tailors is investigating whether EmpathieSim is feasible: which stories work best, which format fits best (screen or VR), and whether the experience genuinely changes how people think. Source: public phase 1 summaries, RVO
De Drempel Over
De Drempel Over ('Crossing the Threshold') is a mobile escape experience housed in a converted caravan. In it, key professionals experience first-hand what it's like for vulnerable citizens to get stuck — for example due to low literacy, digital exclusion, or distrust of government. A debrief afterwards directly links this experience back to their own work. Key professionals often understand the problems facing their target group in theory, but don't really feel them. As a result, their approach doesn't always match what vulnerable citizens actually need. The experience is designed for neighbourhood teams, social workers and other professionals who bridge the gap between citizens and government. By making people experience these problems rather than just explaining them, De Drempel Over deepens understanding of vulnerable residents and encourages better-suited support and communication. Source: public summaries phase 1, RVO
WijkWijs
WijkWijs is a mobile app that helps residents prepare for a crisis at neighbourhood level. Under normal circumstances, users follow a playful AR trail past emergency facilities and key locations in their own neighbourhood, complete with immersive explanations and an AI assistant. When the internet goes down, the app switches to an offline crisis mode featuring a local map, and the on-device AI assistant remains available. The feasibility study is being carried out by Dutch Rose Media/4DR Studios in Eindhoven, with Magic Trailz and Mear Fryslân as operational partners and the municipality of Eindhoven serving as the test site. Source: public phase 1 summaries, RVO
Belletje Trek
Belletje Trek is an immersive group experience in which local residents jointly go through a simulated crisis situation, such as a 3-day power outage. Using their own smartphones, participants complete tasks and work together to deal with the situation. No app download or technical knowledge is required. The experience helps residents get to know each other better, discover each other's strengths and build trust. Belletje Trek is designed as a practical tool for neighbourhood professionals to strengthen social cohesion and self-reliance, particularly within groups that don't yet know one another. This makes it possible to practise mutual self-reliance in an accessible, playful way. Source: public phase 1 summaries, RVO
Black-out Event: immersive serious gaming voor samenredzame gemeenschappen
Black-Out Event is a mobile, interactive crisis simulation in which local communities experience how they can help one another when power, internet and other services go down. Over 72 minutes, participants live through the first 72 hours of a nationwide blackout, making decisions for their own neighbourhood based on limited information. Most crisis preparedness today relies on passive information: campaigns, websites, leaflets or public meetings. These are useful, but generic, and tend to reach mainly people who are already interested. Black-Out Event takes a different approach. The experience makes crisis preparedness collaborative, practical and tangible, while also addressing the social and emotional impact of a crisis. Participants discover who can help, which locations matter, and what arrangements need to be made. The outcomes are translated into a practical map or toolkit for their own neighbourhood. Source: public phase 1 summaries, RVO
Onzichtbare Helden: immersive buurttraining voor collectief handelen in crises
Invisible Heroes is a mixed reality neighbourhood training in which residents experience a crisis in their own area together. Using a VR headset, they see digital crisis information about their own street, for example during a prolonged power outage, flooding or a heatwave. Together, they practise the role they and their neighbours can play. The training is designed for municipalities and safety regions to prepare residents for situations where emergency services cannot be everywhere at once. Its contribution to social inclusion and cohesion lies here: neighbours who barely knew each other experience something meaningful together and discover each other's strengths, regardless of language, background or education. Everyone has something to offer. This builds trust in the street, even outside crisis situations. The first customers are municipalities and safety regions. In phase 1, Inner Group is researching feasibility in 2 pilot sites, together with the fire service, Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region, immersive designers (Framespace) and welfare organisations. Source: public phase 1 summaries, RVO