The Solution

The Gamification Solution

CyberSprout creates a unique take on the popular idea of gamified education by creating a web application that teaches users cyber hygiene. CyberSprout makes cyber hygiene easy and simple to understand through short interactive modules and engaging content. CyberSprout is accessible through the web, meaning all you need to jump right into your next learning journey is access to a browser!

How CyberSprout works

When a user first gets their hands on CyberSprout, they will be prompted to create an account. From there, the user will be asked to pick an avatar, this avatar will act as the user's self insert throughout their learning journey using CyberSprout. The goal presented to the user is to grow their garden of knowledge, a visual presentation of the user's progress. The further the user makes it through CyberSprout, the larger their garden grows. The lesson path branches out in an interconnected tree diagram, where the lesson, or "level", unlocks the next path forward.

Each lesson is formatted as a multiple-choice cyber hygiene scenario that is unlocked through a seed. The seed your avatar carries will either sprout and flourish or wilt and dry up depending on the successful completion of the accompanying level. The user's avatar will also express different emotions depending on how well the user has progressed through CyberSprout. If you’ve completed multiple lessons in a row your avatar becomes happy, if you fail multiple lessons in a row your avatar becomes depressed.

After completing a lesson, the user will receive one free seed that will unlock the next associated lesson. However, after a pre-defined amount of failed attempts, (a failed attempt being a failure to get a passing grade on a lesson), the seed for that lesson will die. The user can obtain new seeds by either waiting out a small growth timer or buying seeds from the Florist using currency earned after successfully completing new lessons and review questions.

The Florist is the guide that exists to help you navigate through CyberSprout. She will give the user tips, explain how to use the product, and also act as a shop to sell seeds and other cosmetic rewards the user can use to spruce up their gardens. This along with the fail penalty and achievement system exist to better help pace the lessons so users do not zoom through lessons too quickly and better absorb the knowledge they learn.

Florist

Variety of Applications

CyberSprout is geared toward being accessible and available to users with little to no cybersecurity knowledge, because of this, CyberSprout caters itself to users of all ages and demographics. As long as you're willing to learn, CyberSprout is willing to teach!

The Workplace

Don't let the cute aesthetics of CyberSprout fool you, with cyber threats always on the rise, it is important that employees at any company or corporation are well-educated in Cyber Hygiene, and CyberSprout teaches just that.

Everyone in Between

Because CyberSprout is designed for users who are just getting their feet wet in cybersecurity, anyone regardless of vocation, age, or previous experience can jump right into starting their CyberSprout journey!

Education

CyberSprout's inviting design and the low bar of entry make CyberSprout a perfect choice for students who are interested in learning cyber hygiene and cybersecurity as a whole. If they can use a computer, they can use CyberSprout.

Why CyberSprout?

CyberSprout is unique because it aims to focus on teaching cyber hygiene through gamification. Although there are similarly styled products in other industries, such as Duolingo of which this product is inspired, there are no such types of products that specifically teach cyber hygiene in this way.

Most cybersecurity learning products in the market are boring and difficult for users to immerse themselves into. CyberSprout plans to go against the norm by maintaining the fun and enjoyable aspect of gamification without sacrificing the integrity of the knowledge it aims to teach.

CyberSprout is more accessible compared to other cyber hygiene and cybersecurity learning platforms due to CyberSprout being geared toward users with little to no cyber security knowledge. CyberSprout is open to many different demographics and not narrowed to a specific audience, as such, CyberSprout allows ALL users willing to better their understanding of cyber hygiene, a chance to do so.

Possibilities for the Future

Adding cyber simulations, difficult challenges meant to test the knowledge learned through CyberSprout with special rewards such as unique plants and special badges. Each cyber stimulation will perform a specific cybersecurity attack and users must perform proper cyber hygiene and defensive techniques to deal with the threat.

Users get notifications outside the product UI via phone notifications and emails, these notifications would let the user know about updates, seed timers, and prompts to continue using the product.

Adding a social element to the platform through scoreboards, public and private messaging, and the ability to peruse other users' gardens if they choose to make them public, friends only, or private.

Although this product is currently being developed as a web application, it has the potential to be transformed into a cross-platform software application given enough time and expertise.

CyberSprout as a service will continually update and grow alongside the ever-evolving cybersecurity field. The possibility for new cyber hygiene lessons is endless!

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