About us

During the Summer of 2006 there were many reports about the increasing level of obesity particularly amongst children. At the same time, there were increasing concerns about children spending more and more time indoors, particularly in front of screens whether watching television or playing computer games.

As keen walkers, we (Richard Vahrman and his wife Moira Nangle) spent time remembering how we played outdoors when we were young (and later discussed with others of our generation). I thought that to make it compelling for youngsters to play outdoors these days, one would have to make games more compelling, and it seemed a logical step to imagine how we could take computer games outdoors. Already using GPS as an accessory to our walks, it seemed natural to base games around GPS, particularly as it becomes an accepted technology.

My first thoughts were to create an outdoor "playstation"  into which one could incorporate a GPS module, but as I researched the technology, I came across a variety of GPS modules that would connect by Bluetooth technology to other devices, particularly mobile phones. Various factors such as

• most people have mobile phones
• youth finds mobile phones fun
• the GPS modules could be bought for £30
• the phone/GPS combination makes a hardware ready combination

made pursuing this line a very attractive proposition.

There is a local (to Brighton) company called Future Platforms who specialise in mobile phone programming and I discussed my ideas with them in September 2006. LocoMatrix was born. We worked together on creating a proof-of-concept prototype which we successfully tested 3 months later. We were very much of the opinion that for the concept to succeed we should be working towards providing a platform for playing games, rather than a series of games. Further we should make the application open to other developers so that they could create their own games.

The majority of 2007 has been taken up with developing the product to the point of launch. At this stage in November we are ready to allow people to start playing. We have created one series of Pacman-like games called Fruit Farmer where the users can create their own levels of games.We have 2 further games, one based on the "capture" of territories and the other which is a user-configurable treasure hunt.

The website has been designed and is in the process of being published, and we are also organising a press launch day which will take the format of a round-table discussion with experts in the field. During the beta phase the games will be free to play. Early next year we will make a small charge for playing. This will be followed by a subscription scheme where users can pay a monthly fee, for access to games, and the ability to enter teams into competitions etc.

During 2008 we will be encouraging people to create games for LocoMatrix, partly for the fun of it, but we also intend to reward the most popular games with a share of the download. We also intend to move in the following directions

• work with schools as a part of an interest in computing, and education in general.
• move into several outdoor areas such as skateboarding, mountain biking, geocaching.
• extend play into other countries
• use the platform into other areas than those of pure exercise, e.g. art and performance works
• developing games that can be played by families.
  

We will also extend the number of phones that will be able to play LocoMatrix, and the areas of games in which LocoMatrix can be used - for example, role playing games, strategy games, games of cooperation. However part of the fun of providing this open system will be seeing the ways in which others are able to help develop the product.

Because this started off as a potential solution to the problems of obesity and children not going outdoors, we are also setting up an advisory board that will be separate from the company. It is hoped that this expert panel will be able to guide the ways that LocoMatrix can be used as a benefit to health and well being for all.

LocoMatrix has been privately funded, and we are looking for financial support to futher the aims of LocoMatrix.

Here is some information on the key players.