Here’s a game that might be a little more vivid, and easier to set up, than some of the games that are strictly verbal games. Call it “Tech Support.”
There are two players, separated by a screen or barrier so they can’t see each other, point, or gesture, only communicate by words.
One player is the Customer. They are trying to figure out how to use or perform some operation on a physical object. (Preferably one they actually don’t know how to use!)
The other player is the Expert. They are trying to help the Customer use the object.
A simple musical instrument like a recorder would be a great thing to start with.
“I see two pieces.”
“Oh, then you have to assemble it. One piece should have a socket that the other fits into.”
“OK, so I put the other piece into the socket?”
“Exactly. Now, one end of the recorder should have a long and narrow slit, the other one should have a circular hole. Do you see that?”
“Yes.”
“The part with the narrow slit is called a mouthpiece. Put it into your mouth just a little bit, no farther than the teeth, and close your lips around it.”
“Mmm-hmm?”
“Now gently blow”
“Now, there will be a row of holes along the recorder, and on the other side a single hole. Do you see that?”
etc.
You could make the game easier by allowing the Expert to see the Customer but not vice-versa.
Or you could increase the challenge level by requiring the Customer to describe the object to the Expert in the first place. (Obviously some research would be required to find pairs of people, only one of whom knows how to use any given object, if the Expert is not to know what the object is.)
I’ve played that game, using various shaped blocks that the Customer has to assemble in a specific pattern. It’s great.
There’s also the variation with an Intermediary, and the Expert and Customer can only communicate with the Intermediary, who moves back and forth between rooms and can’t write anything down.
Here’s a game that might be a little more vivid, and easier to set up, than some of the games that are strictly verbal games. Call it “Tech Support.”
There are two players, separated by a screen or barrier so they can’t see each other, point, or gesture, only communicate by words.
One player is the Customer. They are trying to figure out how to use or perform some operation on a physical object. (Preferably one they actually don’t know how to use!)
The other player is the Expert. They are trying to help the Customer use the object.
A simple musical instrument like a recorder would be a great thing to start with.
“I see two pieces.”
“Oh, then you have to assemble it. One piece should have a socket that the other fits into.”
“OK, so I put the other piece into the socket?”
“Exactly. Now, one end of the recorder should have a long and narrow slit, the other one should have a circular hole. Do you see that?”
“Yes.”
“The part with the narrow slit is called a mouthpiece. Put it into your mouth just a little bit, no farther than the teeth, and close your lips around it.”
“Mmm-hmm?”
“Now gently blow”
“Now, there will be a row of holes along the recorder, and on the other side a single hole. Do you see that?”
etc.
You could make the game easier by allowing the Expert to see the Customer but not vice-versa.
Or you could increase the challenge level by requiring the Customer to describe the object to the Expert in the first place. (Obviously some research would be required to find pairs of people, only one of whom knows how to use any given object, if the Expert is not to know what the object is.)
I’ve played that game, using various shaped blocks that the Customer has to assemble in a specific pattern. It’s great.
There’s also the variation with an Intermediary, and the Expert and Customer can only communicate with the Intermediary, who moves back and forth between rooms and can’t write anything down.