Hobbies And Interests
"Whodunit?"
Fingerprint identification has been used for decades to identify people. The forensic science of fingerprint identification has become more reliable as computer technology as been developed to sort and categorize fingerprints. The computer can distinguish fingerprint characteristics that the human eye might not see. A Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) game called "Whodunit?" is based on the science of fingerprint identification. In this game the player must locate fingerprints on surfaces at a crime scene, like a bank where a robbery occurred, and then try to visually match the prints with those of suspects. When the player finds what she thinks is a matching fingerprint, she checks her findings against the computer, which verifies whether the fingerprints indeed match. The game is one of elimination of suspects until a matching fingerprint is found. However, some suspects whose fingerprints are found at the scene may have a reasonable explanation for the presence of their prints.
Interactive Detective
Interactive detective games can be played on the Internet. At "Virtual Museum," players investigate a murder mystery. The goal of the game is to thoroughly investigate the place where the murderer entered the scene, where a struggle may have taken place, and the final scene where the murder took place. The player must find a minimum of four clues in each area, and only 12 clues exist in the game. The player must closely examine each scene and then roll the mouse pointer over an area where a potential clue may be located. When a clue is discovered, a popup will describe the clue. The clue is then sent to the crime lab where the player will be asked questions about the clue. The player gets only one chance to answer the question correctly. If the player answers the question correctly, he scores one point; a wrong answer is minus one point. Discovering clues and answering questions about the relevance or meaning of those clues is how the player discovers who may have committed the crime.
"CSI Web Adventure"
"CSI Web Adventure" is based on the popular TV program "CSI" (Crime Scene Investigation), and the game was developed by Rice University Center for Technology. It has an exploration mode and a walk-through for players who need extra help with the game. There are three crime scenes to explore. Players click the mouse on objects in scenes to learn more about the object and its potential importance to the investigation. Players can interact with characters by clicking on the character on the screen. Game players assist the "CSI" characters in a forensic investigation of items that the player recovered from the crime scene. A player needs to click on relevant items and not miss important clues at the scene. Items are returned to the lab and a complete step-by-step interactive forensic investigation is conducted.