ICT is running a series of articles to highlight the work of our student researchers. In this essay we hear from Betül Dincer, who is about to graduate with a MSc, Computer Science from Viterbi School of Engineering, and has been working as a Game Developer in the Human-Centered AI Lab, under the supervision of Dr. Ning Wang, for the past year.
BYLINE: Betül Dincer, Game Developer, Human-Centered AI Lab, ICT.
Many people think of video games merely as toys—something meant for leisure, often overused and time-consuming. However, I see them as powerful tools capable of improving learning, fostering collaboration, and inspiring creativity. This perspective drives me to build gaming experiences that positively impact people’s lives, education, and well-being.
I’m about to graduate with my Master’s in Computer Science from USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and have been working as a game developer (student researcher) at the Human-Centered AI Lab at ICT, under the supervision of Dr. Ning Wang for the past year.
I’ve been privileged to support my master’s studies through prestigious awards, including the Fulbright Scholarship, Keith Uncapher Scholarship, and the Promising Turks Scholarship. These generous investments in my education have inspired me to give back by creating interactive experiences that make a real-world impact, specifically by enhancing learning, improving healthcare, and promoting overall well-being.
Serious Games
I got my start as a game developer while working for the visual arts professor, Evren Yantaç, who established the KARMA AR&VR Lab at Koç University, Turkey, during my undergraduate studies in (dual major) Electrical & Electronics Engineering and Media & Visual Arts.
The lab focused on leveraging mixed reality to enhance learning, well-being, and cultural heritage accessibility. At KARMA, I designed and developed my first AR and VR applications—serious games aimed at supporting mental and physical well-being. It was here that I realized the immense potential of games to go beyond entertainment, and become powerful tools.
My experience designing interactive narratives for healthcare applications at KARMA Lab motivated me to design and develop a related graduation project—a VR game with a biofeedback mechanism to encourage deep, slow breathing for reducing pain and anxiety during cancer treatment. This project earned third place in the Best Senior Design competition, became a finalist in TÜBİTAK’s “Technology for Humanity” competition, and resulted in the publication of our paper, “A Biofeedback Based Virtual Reality Game for Pediatric Population (BioVirtualPed)” in the Annals of Oncology journal.
Game Development at USC
Throughout my Master’s program at USC, I have continued to work as a game developer. I was taken on as an Augmented Reality (AR) / Mobile Developer at the USC Game Innovation Lab, where I worked on the Asterist project, funded by The Sloan Foundation. Simultaneously, I was a VR Developer at USC Creative Media Behavioral Health Center, where I helped develop a VR game aimed at addressing gait impairments in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
In May 2024, I joined the internship program at USC Institute for Creative Technologies. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ning Wang, my research here at ICT has centered on the development of serious games—particularly those designed to teach foundational concepts in AI and probability through engaging, immersive experiences. Our goal is to integrate educational content seamlessly into compelling narratives and game mechanics, making complex computer science topics accessible to a broad audience.
One of my most significant projects at ICT has been Building Basic AI Competency for All: Becoming Fei, a pedagogical AI game designed to introduce individuals with no prior AI experience to fundamental machine learning and data science concepts. Funded by DEVCOM Army Research Lab (ARL), the project employs gamification to bridge the gap between education and engagement. I contributed to the programming, software development, design, and narrative development of this initiative. Our academic paper on this work has been accepted by the HCI International Conference 2025.
Beyond my research contributions, I have actively participated in community outreach, representing ICT’s Human-Centered AI Lab at the “Ask a Scientist” event at Bell Gardens High School. This long standing collaboration between the lab and the school serves to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. We showcased a suite of AI education games, including Becoming Fei and 7th Patient—an NSF-funded serious game designed to teach Bayesian networks and probability AI to high school students. Witnessing students engage with these games, ask questions, and express newfound interest in AI reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of well-designed educational experiences.
Heading for a PhD
I am thrilled to announce I’ve been accepted as a PhD student in Computer Science at Northeastern University, where I will have the opportunity to work with Prof. Stacy Marsella, a former ICT Research Associate Professor. This next chapter presents an exciting opportunity to deepen my research in serious games, AI, and human-computer interaction.
For me, success in research is not measured solely by publications but by real-world impact—by the moment a game I helped create is used in a classroom, a rehabilitation center, or a collaborative space, improving the lives of its users. I am driven by the belief that technology, when designed with empathy and purpose, has the potential to empower, educate, and transform.
While this is still early days for my career, I feel committed to continue to develop meaningful, research-driven innovations that shape the future of human-computer interaction.
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