For as long as there have been video games, there have been attempts to use them for productivity. From teaching typing to boosting armed forces recruitment, gaming has been used in training, education and even business operations.
The integration of gaming devices into public sector workflows may seem unconventional, but it’s already happening at many levels of government. For instance, certain branches of the U.S. armed forces leverage handheld gaming devices to map electrical lines and other systems in large aquatic vehicles.
What’s more, newer gaming consoles from manufacturers such as MSI, Asus and Lenovo run on the Windows operating system, which makes them easier to fold into workflows. As devices such as the MSI Claw, Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion and the Steam Deck infiltrate mainstream gaming, agencies at the state and local level should consider how this wave of game-based computing can add value.
DISCOVER: These handheld gaming devices are starting to make their way into the public sector.
Viable Use Cases for Government Gamification
Training is the most obvious and immediate gamification use case, especially using handheld gaming devices. Through gamified training programs, new hires can engage in interactive simulations that help them understand their roles, responsibilities and the complexities of government operations. Some real-world use cases involving gaming devices include the following.
Transportation
Anyone who has spent a lot of time in a major city may have encountered buses that say “Training” on their digital signage, with an interior full of public employees wearing brightly colored vests. Imagine if the city could put transit trainees in situations where they must make choices they would likely need to make on the job. It wouldn’t be a replacement for real-world dry runs of bus routes, but it could help get new hires up to speed more quickly. The same could apply to subway train operators.
Critical Infrastructure Management and Maintenance
One of the benefits of handheld gaming devices is their smaller profile. They’re easy to travel with, but because they are internet-connected endpoints with complete OSs, they can access maps, schematics and blueprints that might be useful for electric, gas, water and other critical utilities. They have larger screens than an average smartphone, and their analog controls make them easier to operate with gloves on in operational environments than a purely touch-screen tablet.
These devices can also be used to remotely control drones and other devices that states use for a variety of maintenance and inspection purposes. Jurisdictions such as South Carolina and Los Angeles use drones to create 3D models of physical infrastructure such as bridges, causeways and parks. You would require an internet connection for an MSI or Asus device to work out in the field, but remotely mounted routers from companies such as Cradlepoint are becoming commonplace in smart cities.
EXPLORE: A historic building in Washington, DC just got a big IT modernization overhaul.
Managing Internet of Things Devices
Cities all over the country use sensors, smart surveillance cameras and other IoT endpoints to improve efficiency and boost public safety. Many cities, such as Coral Gables, Fla., have created complete digital twins. Imagine interfacing with that digital twin via a handheld gaming device. What if you could remotely pan certain cameras to adjust visibility in preparation for certain city events? The idea of using a gamelike interface to interact with physical environments, or digital representations of those environments, makes sense.
First Responder Training
It’s no secret that the armed forces have been using video games in training and recruitment programs for more than a decade. What’s less discussed is the fact that virtual reality simulations also exist for police officers. Officers can be immersed in specific scenarios that may require nonlethal or lethal force to test their response. VR and augmented reality are still on the cutting-edge side of gaming, and prices are still high, especially if you consider higher-end models from Apple. However, some device makers, such as Meta and Google, have introduced more affordable VR and AR devices. I wouldn’t be surprised to see VR and AR become mainstream training tools for first responders including firefighters, police and EMTs within the decade.
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Gamification Is a New Way To Work
From certifications to training, infrastructure monitoring to law enforcement, we’re quickly moving past the point of gamification being a futurist use case. As more operations become digitalized, questions will be asked about the best and most effective way to interface with these programs. Handheld devices represent one way — especially a device such as the MSI Claw, which is compatible with a wide range of existing applications developed for Windows. If deployed in the right departments and with the right use cases in mind, these devices could start adding value tomorrow.
VR and AR, while expensive, are not far behind. For years, public libraries have used VR to enhance educational programs and attract more visitors. In 2021, Austin, Texas, used a VR application to help first responders train for mass casualty events.
The mechanics that we typically associate with leisure gaming — haptic feedback, joysticks, analog buttons — are just different ways to interface with digital technologies, and they represent an opportunity in the public sector. Some jurisdictions are already buying in, while others remain skeptical of the value that handheld devices and other gaming systems can offer.
The key here is to consider where a handheld gaming device or headset might in fact be the best, most efficient way to achieve certain goals. Chances are, if you can think of it, there’s probably already a gaming device that can make it happen.
