Word Ladders

The solution

Word Ladders is a game that allows players to test their vocabulary and attempt to create the longest possible “ladder” by adding words to each rung. However, not all words earn points. Players start by adding increasingly generic words above the given word (e.g., apple → fruit → food). The longer the ladder, the more points are scored.

The development of Word Ladders involved active collaboration with the client, who fully managed the data analysis phase and word algorithm. In addition to the refactoring activities, Synesthesia’s Technologies team worked on implementing the following features:

• statistics section with scores related to game activity.
• real-time updated leaderboard section (with search filter options).
• badges section with goals that players can achieve based on their performance.
• tutorial section detailing all the features and various game modes.
• information section about the initiative.

Synesthesia’s development activities were carried out using the following technologies: React Native for the front end and Node.JS for the back end.

For further information on the scientific objectives behind the creation of the game, the privacy policy, and other app documentation, please visit the academic project’s website.

Results

“The collaboration between Synesthesia and our research group at the University of Bologna has brought Word Ladders to life, a mobile app that is not only a linguistic game but also contributes to research on linguistic thought and improves the language skills of players in both Italian and English. Synesthesia’s professionalism was reflected in their cohesive, young, and dynamic team, who tackled every stage of the project with commitment, proactivity, and, above all, calmness in handling challenges.
We appreciated the genuine interest shown by Synesthesia’s members in the scientific challenges that inspired this app, an interest that made us feel understood and supported. This partnership represents an excellent example of synergy between the academic and industrial worlds, inspiring innovation and scientific progress”.

Marianna Marcella Bolognesi (Coordinator of the Abstraction project under which Word Ladders was developed, and Associate Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Modern Cultures at the University of Bologna).