‘I Heard That’ is a mobile application fostering exercises of active listening - here defined as the choice of validating the other without offering advice, suggestions, or opinions. The app envisions two possible roles - the speaker, benefiting from empathic space, and the listener, actively toning their listening skills. The app guides the user role playing as the listener through minor, multiple-choice scripted scenarios to familiarize them with “rules” and principles of the practice of active listening. The user will later be able to apply those notions when role playing as the listener in the live chat.

A playful process of gamification, achieved through the implementation of animated avatars and character customization and virtual environments (e.g. café, park bench, etc.), aimed to ease the app’s learning process. The project envisioned the user being stimulated and encouraged to actively engage with the system, rather than passively receiving a stream of instructions. Be you when learning new skills!