Assessing Older Adults’ Usability Challenges Using Kinect-Based Exergames

Abstract

Exergames have been growing in popularity as a means to get physical exercise. Although these systems have many potential benefits both physically and cognitively, there may be barriers to their use by older adults due to a lack of design consideration for age-related changes in motor and perceptual capabilities. In this paper we evaluate the usability challenges of Kinect-based exergames for older adults. Older adults rated their interaction with the exergames system based on their perceived usefulness and ease-of-use of these systems. Although many of the participants felt that these systems could be potentially beneficial, particularly for exercise, there were several challenges experienced. We discuss the implications for design guidelines based on the usability challenges assessed.

Replacing Self-Efficacy in Physical Activity: Unconscious Intervention of the AR Game, Pokémon GO

“…Many studies show self-efficacy to be important for increasing physical activity [29,39,44,45]. However, previous research has failed to provide more realistic accounts of how the gamification of health behavior would attract and change the behaviors of people with problematic health behaviors in the perspective of playing a game [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. If the purpose is not for exercise, but to enjoy a game, people's physical activity will increase despite a lack of intention.…”

“…Although these studies suggest that the main motivation for using these applications is the desire to improve one's studies suggest that the main motivation for using these applications is the desire to improve one's health [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], it seems unrealistic that people who are not inclined to exercise and improve their health would actually use these applications or benefit from them in the way described in these studies. Moreover, some studies show that the app intervention does not have a significant effect on increasing the intensity level of physical activity [13,21].…”

“…Moreover, some studies show that the app intervention does not have a significant effect on increasing the intensity level of physical activity [13,21]. However, previous studies on the gamification of health behaviors neglected the fact that people who are not motivated to exercise would be unlikely to use health and fitness applications, even gamified versions, when the sole benefit of using them is to increase exercise level [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

A Usability Evaluation Experiment of 3D User Interfaces for Elderly

“…In related work (Section 2), the authors used metrics as speed to execute the task and ranking points , ease of use (Harrington et al, 2015), and accuracy (Palacio et al, 2017) to evaluate the system usability. All these metrics refer to the task performance and user preference during the use of system, but the authors do not determinate a default evaluation method to these requirements for elderly.…”

“…They also veri ed that the system might include the navigation requiring less learning, corrective feedback and timely warnings when idle. Harrington et al (2015) approach the usability challenges of the device Kinect based in exergames for elderly, pointing out which aspects of these programs are of di cult assimilation by elderly people. Tests with ten elderly with ages between 60 and 69 years and ten elderly with ages between 70 and 79 years used two prototypes of games that stimulate physical activities.…”