sg 17(13): e3

Research Article

Lessons Learned from the Gamified Solutions in Healthcare Project: Usability Studies of Digital Game-based Physical Exercises for Elderly People

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  • @ARTICLE{10.4108/eai.27-12-2017.153511,
    author={A. Pyae and T.N. Joelsson and M. Luimula and T. Saarenpaa and J. Smed},
    title={Lessons Learned from the Gamified Solutions in Healthcare Project: Usability Studies of Digital Game-based Physical Exercises for Elderly People},
    journal={EAI Endorsed Transactions on Serious Games},
    volume={4},
    number={13},
    publisher={EAI},
    journal_a={SG},
    year={2017},
    month={12},
    keywords={exergames, usability, game design, interaction, the elderly},
    doi={10.4108/eai.27-12-2017.153511}
}
  • A. Pyae
    T.N. Joelsson
    M. Luimula
    T. Saarenpaa
    J. Smed
    Year: 2017
    Lessons Learned from the Gamified Solutions in Healthcare Project: Usability Studies of Digital Game-based Physical Exercises for Elderly People
    SG
    EAI
    DOI: 10.4108/eai.27-12-2017.153511
A. Pyae1,*, T.N. Joelsson1, M. Luimula2, T. Saarenpaa2, J. Smed1
  • 1: Department of Future Technologies, University of Turku, Finland
  • 2: Turku University of Applied Sciences
*Contact email: aung.pyae@utu.fi

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss usability lessons in designing physical activity games for the elderly. Physical activity games in this study refer to game-based activity that can enhance the elderly’s experiences in doing physical exercise and improve their physical well-being. We learned these usability lessons through the usability testing of different physical activity games including commercial games as well as the games produced by the Gamified Solutions in Healthcare (GSH) project. The discussion is based on the findings from the observational study, interview, and questionnaires in the usability testing. These usability lessons are insightful and useful for our future game design and development as well as for researchers working on game usability for the elderly.

Keywords
exergames, usability, game design, interaction, the elderly
Received
2016-06-16
Accepted
2017-10-02
Published
2017-12-27
Publisher
EAI
http://dx.doi.org/10.4108/eai.27-12-2017.153511

Copyright © 2017 A. Pyae et al., licensed to EAI. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), which permits unlimited use, distribution and reproduction in any medium so long as the original work is properly cited. doi: 10.4108/eai.27-12-2017.153511