Brox vitalis

User centred approach in exergame design for elderly

Ellen BroxNorut, Tromsø, Norway

Norut and me• Norut –multidisciplinary research institute• ICT department – eHealth group• Background in ICT, lately focus on

– Serious Games– Exergames– User centred design

Contents• User centred design• Elderly and games• Exergames• Our experience

Based on GameUp

• Exergames for elderly• Kinect• A stable user group for 3 years

What - User Centred DesignUser-centred design (UCD) is a process in which the needs, wants, and limitations of end users of a product, service or process are given extensive attention at each stage of the design process (wikipedia)

multi-stage problem solving process– analyse and foresee how users are

likely to use a product– test the validity of the assumptions

Why user centred design?• See the product from the users’ perspective• Success depend on them

– Wanting to use it– Use it correctly

• Not easy to imagine the users’ reaction

When?The entire project:

• Requirement• Design• Development• Evaluation

How? Mixed methodsSome common methods• Literature• Focus groups• Usability testing• Questionnaires• Interviews• Participatory design• Field studies

Methods usedRequirements:Commercial gamesLiterature Observations

Design: ObservationsGroup discussionsSemi-structured interviews

Implementation: Iterative trialsObservationsGroup discussions Semi-structured interviews

Evaluations:Structured and semi-structured interviewsquestionnaires

ExergamesVideo games that are also a form of exercise.

Need technology that tracks body movement or reaction.

Exergames and elderly• Elderly

– Little information at the time– Time to think– Their own speed– Light and contrasts– Not noisy

• Elderly still like a challenge and to have fun!

Elderly and gamesSightHearingMotor skillsCognivite abilities

Not all commercial exergames are suited…

GameUp

Change examples• Background• Contrast sky/tree• Contrast apples/tree• Apple signs

• Buckets lifted• Head on stick man• Moving cloud removed• More blue, less green

Details

Menu colours• Tested menu colours

• Too much, got exhausted

• Difficult to get real opinion

The (very) old are differentIt is amazing how difficult it is for a young person to understand the limitations of age

• Speed• Movements • Information• Small details• Colours and fonts• SoundNRK

Thank you!

[email protected]@ellentos

+47 934 19 285Skype: ellenbrox