Kathrin Maria Gerling
ABSTRACT
In this paper, we discuss chances and challenges of game design for an elderly audience with a focus on the development of safe and usable exertion games for frail senior citizens. Based on an analysis of theoretical constraints, we conducted a case study which implements different balance tasks for elderly players featuring the Nintendo Wii Balance Board which encourages users to actively engage in game play. Furthermore, we tested the feasibility of the board as input device for our case study SilverBalance. Our results indicate that age-related impairments influence the use of video games among frail elderly in many respects, hence their needs have to be considered during the design process. In this context, our paper provides a foundation for future research regarding digital games for the elderly.
- J. E. Birren and K. W. Schaie. Handbook of the Psychology of Aging. San Diego, CA, USA: Academic Press, 2001.Google Scholar
- M. Blythe, A. Monk, and K. Doughty. Socially dependable design: The challenge of ageing populations for HCI. Interacting with Computers, 17(6), 672--689, 2005. Google ScholarDigital Library
- D. C. Burdick and S. Kwon. Gerotechnology: research and practice in technology and aging. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2004.Google Scholar
- J. W. Burke, M. D. J. McNeill, D. K. Charles, P. J. Morrow, J.H. Crosbie, and S.M. McDonough. Optimising engagement for stroke rehabilitation using serious games. In: The Visual Computer: International Journal of Computer Graphics. Serious Games and Virtual Worlds, 1085--1099, 2009. Google ScholarDigital Library
- S. J. Cutler. Technological Change and Aging. In R. H. Binstock and L. K. George, Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences. Burlington, USA: Academic Press, 2006.Google Scholar
- S. J. Czaja and C. C. Lee. Information Technology and Older Adults. In The Human Computer Interaction Handbook, A. Sears and J. A. Jacko, Eds. New York, New York, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2008.Google Scholar
- Entertainment Software Association of Canada. Essential Facts about the Canadian Computer and Video Game Industry, 2009. Available at http://www.theesa.ca/documents/EssentialFacts2009EN.pdf, last access: 07.07.2010.Google Scholar
- E. Flores, G. Tobon, E. Cavallaro, F. I. Cavallaro, J. C. Perry, and T. Keller. Improving patient motivation in game development for motor deficit rehabilitation. Proceedings of the 2008 International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology, Yokohama, Japan, 2008. Google ScholarDigital Library
- L. Gamberini, M. Alcaniz, G. Barresi, M Fabregat, F. Ibanez, and L. Prontu. Cognition, technology and games for the elderly: An introduction to ELDERGAMES Project. PsychNology Journal, 4(3): 285--308, 2006.Google Scholar
- M. Griffith. The Therapeutic Value of Video Games. In Handbook of Computer Game Studies, J. Raessens and J. Goldstein, Eds. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2005.Google Scholar
- W. Ijsselsteijn, H. H. Nap, and Y. de Kort. Digital Game Design for Elderly Users. Proceedings of FuturePlay 2007, Toronto, Canada, 2007. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Y. Jung, K. J. Li, N.S. Janissa, W. L. C. Gladys, and K. M. Lee. Games for a Better Life: Effects of Playing Wii Games on the Well-Being of Seniors in a Long-Term Care Facility. Proceedings of the Sixth Australasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment, Sydney, Australia, 2007. Google ScholarDigital Library
- P. Keyani, G. Hsieh, B. Mutlu, M. Easterday, and J. Forlizzi. DanceAlong: Supporting Positive Social Exchange and Exercise for the Elderly Through Dance. Proceedings of CHI 2005, Portland, USA, 2005. Google ScholarDigital Library
- E. T. Khoo, S. P. Lee, and A. D. Cheok. Age invaders. Proceedings of the International Conference on Augmented Tele-Existence, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2005. Google ScholarDigital Library
- A. A. Mahmud, O. Mubin, S. Shahid, and J. Martens. Designing and evaluating the tabletop game experience for senior citizens. Proceedings of NordiCHI '08, Sweden, 2008. Google ScholarDigital Library
- F. Mueller and S. Agamanolis. Exertion Interfaces. Proceedings of the 26th annual SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Florence, Italy, 2008. Google ScholarDigital Library
- H. H. Nap, W. A. Ijsselsteijn, and Y. A. W. de Kort. Age Differences in Associations with Digital Gaming. Proceedings of DiGRA 2009, London, UK, 2009.Google Scholar
- T. Pigford. Feasibility and Benefit of Using the Nintendo Wii Fit for Balance Rehabilitation in an Elderly Patient Experiencing Recurrent Falls. Journal of Student Physical Therapy Research, 2(1): 12--20, 2010.Google Scholar
- D. Rosenberg, C. A. Depp, I. V. Vahia, J. Reichstadt, B. W. Palmer, J. Kerr, G. Norman, and D. V. Jeste. Exergames for Subsyndromal Depression in Older Adults: A Pilot Study of a Novel Intervention. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(3), 221--226, 2010.Google ScholarCross Ref
- B. De Schutter and V. Van Den Abeele. Meaningful Play in Elderly Life. Proceedings of the 58th Annual Conference of the ICA, Montreal, Canada, 2008.Google Scholar
- N. Shim, R. Baecker, J. Birnholtz, and K. Moffatt. TableTalk Poker: An Online Social Gaming Environment for Seniors. Proceedings of FuturePlay 2010, Vancouver, Canada, 2010. Google ScholarDigital Library
- SilverFit BV. SilverFit Virtual Rehabilitation System, 2010. Available at http://www.silverfit.nl/, last access: 07.06.2010.Google Scholar
- J. Sinclair, P. Hingston, and M. Masek. Considerations for the design of exergames. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, Perth, Australia, 2007. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Y. Theng, A. B. Dahlan, M. L. Akmal, and T. Z. Myint. An exploratory study on senior citizens' perceptions of the Nintendo Wii. Proceedings of the 3rd International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology, Singapore, 2009. Google ScholarDigital Library
- G. Ulbrecht, D. Wagner, and E. Gräßel. Pilotstudie zur möglichen Wirksamkeit von Sportspielen an der Wii-Konsole bei Pflegeheimbewohnerinnen und --bewohnern, 2010. Available at http://diakonie-bayern.de/uploads/media/Wii_Forschungsbericht_Kurzfassung_01.pdf, last access: 08.06.2010.Google Scholar
- S. Weisman. Computer Games for the Frail Elderly. In: Gerontologist, 23(4): 361--363, 1983.Google Scholar
- G. R. Whitcomb. Computer games for the elderly. ACM SIGCAS Computers and Society, 20(3), 112--115, 1990. Google ScholarDigital Library
Index Terms
- Exergame design for elderly users: the case study of SilverBalance
Recommendations
Designing and evaluating digital games for frail elderly persons
ACE '11: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment TechnologyGame research increasingly addresses human factors of gaming. Though more and more seniors become players, game design for frail elderly has rarely been explored. This paper addresses game design for senior citizens experiencing age-related changes, ...
Design and evaluation of an exergame for motor-cognitive training and fall prevention in older adults
Goodtechs '18: Proceedings of the 4th EAI International Conference on Smart Objects and Technologies for Social GoodExergames have emerged as a strategy to promote physical activity and cognitive tasks through entertainment, being a promising solution for multicomponent training and fall prevention in older adults. Even though seniors may enjoy playing, game design ...
Experience with a 3D Kinect Exergame for Elderly
BIOSTEC 2015: Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 5Physical activity is important for all, but for the elderly balance and sufficient strength is vital to function in
daily life. It can be difficult for all of us to find motivation to exercise at home, and seniors are no
exception. We have experienced ...
Reviews
James H. Bradford
Serious gaming-the development of computer games that achieve serious goals-is becoming an active area of research. Exergames are serious games that promote physical fitness. This study explores some of the design issues involved in the creation of SilverBalance , an exergame for senior citizens. The authors recruited nine nursing home residents (the average age was 84) to play a version of SilverBalance . The game requires players to move an icon on a screen by repositioning their weight on a balance board input device; it is suitable for both players who can stand and those who are restricted to wheelchairs. The authors observed that the subjects rapidly engaged with the game, and even competed with one another as they played. The study involved a single session; as a result, there is no data on the potential benefits of the game. It is disappointing that the researchers don't report any post-gaming interviews with the subjects. Furthermore, though they present promising design criteria early in the paper, the research does not address their effectiveness. The SilverBalance project appears to be worth following, but I do not recommend this specific paper for either exergame researchers or developers. Online Computing Reviews Service
Access critical reviews of Computing literature here
Become a reviewer for Computing Reviews.
Comments