Interland4All – Using AR to Promote a Safe and Responsible Use of the Internet by Frail Children

The growing number of children using mobile devices and Internet services, given the complexity and risks of the online world, is raising great concerns in parents, caregivers and teachers. Hence, many efforts have been developed to promote a safe, confident and aware use of these devices and services. Among these efforts, in 2017 Google introduced the “Be Internet Awesome” program, and the related serious game Interland. In this paper, we present Interland For All (I4A), an AR evolution of Interland, developed by Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi and Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS, aiming to extend Interland’s accessibility to children with some degree of impairment (such as hearing, visual or cognitive). I4A comprises both physical and virtual components running on a smartphone, including some aids specifically targeted to frail children, who could be more exposed to the online risks. The software has been tested by a lower secondary school class and their parents during the RomeCup 2023 event, receiving overall positive feedback but also highlighting some technical shortcomings. The prototype nature of this project requires further studies to investigate in a more structured way its effectiveness, its limitations and possible evolutions. In particular, the mixed use of physical and virtual components deserves to be further fostered, given its potential both in the educational field and in rehabilitation.