Reported by:
Ho Chia Chien Sr3ComB

Photography by:
Kuen Cheng Photo Album

        To spark students’ enthusiasm for digital literacy and global awareness, the Kuen Cheng Computer Club organised a geography-based interactive competition called, “OpenGuessr Detectives: Pinpoint the Place!”. Before 21st July, students had to register in teams of up to five members. The competition was held in Computer Lab A over one week, from 28th July to 1st August 2025.

        Inspired by the online geography game OpenGuessr, in which players identify actual locations using street-level photographs, this was an event in which the participants learned how to develop their geographical orientation with the help of publicly available information by analysing visual clues such as road signs, styles of architecture, and even landscapes. Monitoring was supposed to create an enjoyable but enlightening experience about the dangers students face when leaking information online and realise how easily digital footprints follow.

 

(Photo: Enthusiastic players of the game all smiles)

        The competition consisted of ten challenging rounds that would challenge the participants’ analytical skills and judgment and make decisions in seconds. During every round, a picture originating from OpenGuessr was projected on the screen, after which players had one minute to place the identified location again on a digital world map. If no one correctly located the site, points went to the one who mapped it to the closest possible location.

        Although participants competed in small groups, it was every person for themselves — no discussion was permitted since the game had been designed to measure individual deduction abilities. Some players remained calm and composed, while others could not disguise their excitement or even their frustration, particularly when the actual location was revealed. There was screaming, shouts, and even laughter as players discovered how far off or close their guesses were.

        At the end of the game, the winners were given special Safety Week-themed files as souvenirs from this event, while the rest were awarded candies to recognise their struggle and enthusiasm during the game.