A student at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (Mcast) has designed a mobile app game aimed at providing an entertaining and challenging way for players to test their awareness and acquire general knowledge on various health conditions such as Hypoglycemia.
The game, developed by Multimedia Software Development student Irisann-Maria Agius and launched by Mcast last week, was specifically designed for the Service Dogs Malta Foundation (SDMF) and is freely downloadable from the foundation’s website.
Agius designed the game around an animated character representing a diabetic alert service dog whose job it is to warn a handler that their blood sugar is rising or is falling to dangerous levels.
Mcast’s ICT Technical College and SDFM are currently discussing the possibility of developing a game for people with visual impairment tha will involve audio interaction.
The app was launched at a ceremony during which SDMF head trainer Robert Spiteri presented three golden retrievers named Buddy, Harley and Faith with their official service dog vests. The organisation’s founder Joseph Stafrace also presented their handlers with a certificate confirming their graduation as autism support service dogs after a year of intensive training costing €15,000 per dog.
www.servicedogsmalta.org