Nearlife: Robot Garage
Date Initiated: June 2001

The Markle Foundation gave its support to Nearlife as it engaged in preliminary concept and story development, and design and prototype creation for Robot Garage, a digital property aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds. Robot Garage provides children with digital tools to explore the creation of their own friend and guide-a robot-built out of interchangeable virtual parts, who is sent on educational missions. The goal of this project was to develop a marketable product to support creativity and learning; promote creative problem solving by allowing children to interact with characters of their own making; illustrate the viability of an interactive multi-platform approach; and create a platform that can grow and continually engage children.

Robot Garage's premise is based on constructionist theories that link learning and knowledge formation to children's active involvement in constructing personally meaningful experiences. Markle's support enabled Nearlife to complete the first phase of property development and testing for at-home use.

Nearlife (www.nearlife.com) is a leading developer of interactive digital applications that merge multiple mediums into a synthesized entertainment experience.