Jonathan Saunders
Researcher (Serious Games Developer)
- Department of Computing
- Centre of Excellence in Terrorism Resilience Intelligence and Organised Crime Research
- Culture and Creativity Research Institute
Summary
I am a researcher at CENTRIC, I have over three years’ experience in developing mobile, PC and serious games for both industry and academia. I am currently working on the AUGGMED project as a serious games developer working with virtual and mixed reality solutions to remote, multi-agency training scenarios. I gained an MSc in Games Software Development from Sheffield Hallam University in 2014 and before this I graduated from the University of Greenwich with a 1st Class Honours in Computing with Games Development. Between my degree/masters, and following completion of the MSc, I have worked in academia and industry developing games and tools such as back-end analytics API’s, social care training games and iOS/Android Apps.
About
I am a researcher specialised in serious games development at the CENTRIC research institute. I have over three years’ experience in developing mobile, PC and serious games for both industry and academia. At the University of Greenwich I was Technical Manager on the Maritime Island project creating serious training games for social care workers, this was designed to immerse trainees in realistic simulations of stressful and demanding situations. Alongside this I have development experience in creating mobile games for both IOS and Android in the games industry. I was the lead programmer and games designer for Redneck Renovator, an award winning 2D puzzle game released on the Android platform and worked with Games Faction developing and updating Storm the Train on IOS.
I have experience of developing back-end tools, analytics systems and adaptive testing artificial intelligences. These tools have been used to automate data gathering and testing systems on existing games to increase efficiency and simulate complex gameplay patterns.
I am currently working on the AUGGMED project working with virtual and mixed reality solutions to create remote, multi-agency training scenarios. I am responsible for developing the tools and systems trainers will use to interact with the game including user interfaces, gameplay considerations and virtual reality control systems. I gained an MSc in Games Software Development from Sheffield Hallam University in 2014 and before this I graduated from the University of Greenwich with a 1st Class Honours in Computing with Games Development.
Games Development, Serious Games for Training and Virtual Reality.
Teaching
College of Business, Technology and Engineering
AUGGMED (Automated Serious Games Scenario Generator for Mixed Reality Training)
Research
- Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research
- Culture and Creativity Research Institute
AUGGMED
BMT Group, University of Greenwich, Piraeus Port Authority, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, University of Birmingham, GeoMobile, Sistemes D’Emergencies Mediques, West Yorkshire Police WyFi Team, Istrateam, SERCO, Integration Power, Ministry of Citizens Protection Greece, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.
Publications
Conference papers
Saunders, J., Davey, S., Bayerl, P.S., & Lohrmann, P. (2019). Validating Virtual Reality as an effective Training Medium in the Security Domain. 2019 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR). http://doi.org/10.1109/VR.2019.8798371
Saunders, J., Gibson, H., Leitao, R., & Akhgar, B. (2017). AUGGMED: developing multiplayer serious games technology to enhance first responder training. Proceedings Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, 16 : From Research to Security Union, 223-253. https://digiriiul.sisekaitse.ee/handle/123456789/2001
Book chapters
Akhgar, B., Redhead, A., Davey, S., & Saunders, J. (2019). Introduction: Serious Games for Law Enforcement Agencies. In Akhgar, B. (Ed.) Serious Games for Enhancing Law Enforcement Agencies - From Virtual Reality to Augmented Reality. (pp. 1-11). Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29926-2
Redhead, A., & Saunders, J. (2019). Gamification and Simulation. In Akhgar, B. (Ed.) Serious Games for Enhancing Law Enforcement Agencies - From Virtual Reality to Augmented Reality. (pp. 83-98). Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29926-2_5