In Jamaica’s rapidly evolving media landscape—shaped by viral content, pandemic disruptions, and digital proliferation—54-year-old Kingston native O’neil ‘iShac’ Harris has emerged as an unlikely pioneer in interactive gaming. With no formal higher education, Harris leveraged self-taught expertise in electronics, video production, and coding to create innovative phygital games that blend physical movement with cognitive challenges.
Harris’s journey began through practical experience: maintaining taxi radios, working in telecommunications, and learning video production at JBC (now TVJ) through sheer immersion. His electronics repair shop serviced musical instruments for prominent bands like Fab Five, while his video editing work with Stage Video honed his technical skills. This diverse background proved foundational when he automated exhibits for the Bob Marley Museum in 2014—an early foray into phygital experiences.
The COVID-19 pandemic became an unexpected catalyst. When Jamaica’s film industry collapsed, Harris secured a cultural project with Red Stripe to develop interactive museum exhibits. Though shelved, the project ignited his passion for creating engaging physical-digital hybrids. Scouring YouTube tutorials and international forums, he taught himself coding and prototype development using scrap materials.
Driven by concern over screen-dominated interactions (‘people having their heads down on the phone all the time’), Harris developed five signature games: MemorySprint (pattern replication under time pressure), LightStriker (reflex-testing light tennis), SmackDat (precision whack-a-mole variant), Catch&Stack, and electronic Tic Tac Toe. These installations have become fixtures at local venues like Jangas Soundbar and Grill, where weekly game nights draw hundreds of participants. Viral TikTok exposure has amplified their reach dramatically.
Beyond entertainment, Harris envisions interactive public parks across Jamaica where communities can connect, compete, and learn together. His creations serve as tools for community-building and skill development, though financial constraints challenge scalability. Harris seeks partners who share his vision for affordable, durable public installations.
Reflecting on his unconventional path, Harris acknowledges underestimating business considerations early on but expresses no regret about his creative focus. His mission remains centered on inspiring next-generation innovators and creating spaces ‘where people have something else to do’ beyond screens. Harris’s story exemplifies how resourcefulness, practical learning, and responsiveness to community needs can drive meaningful technological innovation in evolving digital societies.