Will Gaming Technology Infiltrate Law?

OK — fess up. How many of you play Angry Birds on your iPhone? What if you could play a game that improves the productivity, collaboration, compliance or expertise of your legal practice? Within a few years, you may be routinely doing just that. Corporations like Cisco Systems and Google’s Motorola Mobility have embraced gamification, and analysts say the trend is gaining steam. Now, software vendors, law firms and general counsel are starting to experiment to see just how gamification might play in the legal business.

Gamification is an awful word for an interesting concept. It means applying game design and mechanics to educate or motivate people. It adds an element of play to an application or platform to better capture and hold a person’s attention, so that she or he learns something or changes behavior. Usually, rewards are involved. Players get points and/or badges as they become more proficient. Accumulate enough points, and get cash, a new iPad or just bragging rights with peers.