Multimedia Educational Tools
We developed a series of comic-based educational tool for improving people’s understanding of computer security and privacy. Secure Comics raises computer security awareness in a visual, easy to digest comic format. Cyberheroes in an interactive e-book about online privacy for children aged 7–10.
Secure Comics
Secure Comics is an online comic series about cybersecurity and privacy. Users learn about passwords, malware, and online privacy while they follow Agent Jack and Nina as they solve computer security crimes to protect the public against the super hacker, "Hack."
The main characters, Jack and Nina, are cyber-detectives who solve computer security crimes to protect the public from the cyber-villain “Hack.” Jack and Nina act as mentors to teach users about computer security concepts, how they work, and provides tips and advice on how users could protect themselves from online risks.
For example, the Password Comic teaches users the concept “passwords are like locks” (left), and how to create a strong and memorable password using a passphrase (right).
Design process
Educational comics can demonstrate complex topics illustratively through the use of narrative and characters. The format delivers information through a juxtaposition of text and images and breaks down complex concepts visually to aid comprehension.
Secure Comics was created using Adobe Creative Suite graphics software. First, pencil sketches were scanned and imported into Adobe Illustrator, where I created the drawings using a Wacom Intuos Graphics Pen and Touch tablet. Next, the graphical assets were imported into a development application called GameSalad for implementation.
Cyberheroes
Cyberheroes is an educational interactive ebook about online privacy for children under the age of 10. Cyberheroes gently introduces young children to online privacy concepts, promotes privacy-conscious behaviour, and fosters child-parent discussions about privacy risks at an early age.
Design
The interactive e-book gently introduce online privacy concepts to children without technical and frightening details and to integrate the educational content into the narrative seamlessly. The interactive ebook format supports children’s learning by adult instruction and increases engagement.
Narrative
Cyberheroes (a play on superheroes) must maintain their secret identities on the Internet. Cyberheroes have “cyberpowers” that are privacy-related lessons about personal information, online chatting, location sharing, cyberbullying, and passwords. Due to the popularity of the superhero genre, the story easily resonates with children and make the concept of privacy easy to understand.
Illustration
Cyberheroes was created in Adobe Illustrator using a Wacom Intuos Graphics Pen and Touch tablet and developed in GameSalad. The fantasy storybook illustration style is reminiscent of printed children’s picture books.
