Digital game design for elderly users

Abstract

The current paper reviews and discusses digital game design for elderly users. The aim of the paper is to look beyond the traditional perspective of usability requirements imposed by agerelated functional limitations, towards the design opportunities that exist to create digital games that will offer engaging content combined with an interface that seniors can easily and pleasurably use.

Exercise and rehabilitation delivered through exergames in older adults: An integrative review of technologies, safety and efficacy

“…Exercise through video games, socalled exergames, is used progressively more to increase physical activity and improve health and physical function in older adults (1,(3)(4)(5), and there is growing interest in using exergames as a potential rehabilitation tool to facilitate specific exercises in different clinical groups (6)(7)(8). Studies suggest that exergaming promotes improvements in mobility (9,10), muscular strength of the lower limbs (11), balance control (2,12,13), and cognition (14) in older adults.…”

“…(3) Which physical functions have been targeted, and which outcome measures have been used? (4) Was there a change in physical function following exergame intervention?…”

Impact of Serious Games on Health and Well-being of Elderly: A Systematic Review

“…Data extraction was undertaken using Excel sheets to summarize the papers and classify the serious game impacts on the elderly. The principles and categories of [12] on serious games and [15] on games for elderly people were adopted as guidelines to extract information from previous studies. After that, in the last phase, the reviews were checked by the second author, and if there were disagreements among researchers regarding the coding, the first author mediated the differences.…”

“…Social, cognitive and physical impacts: In the field of computer games for the elderly, the motivations for elderly people to play games are categorized into four areas: entertainment, socializing with other people, mental exercise, and physical exercise [15], [16], [17]. [15] used these categories specifically from the perspective of game design for older adults, whereas [16] and [17] categorized the motivations and sources of enjoyment of the elderly gamers with compatible terms.…”

“…[15] used these categories specifically from the perspective of game design for older adults, whereas [16] and [17] categorized the motivations and sources of enjoyment of the elderly gamers with compatible terms. For example, multiplayer games afford the possibility of social interactions while playing games, whereas puzzle and quiz -type games can be used for a purpose similar to crossword puzzles, that is to activate the mind.…”