MnemoCity Task: Assessment of Childrens Spatial Memory Using Stereoscopy and Virtual Environments

Abstract

This paper presents the MnemoCity task, which is a 3D application that introduces the user into a totally 3D virtual environment to evaluate spatial short-term memory. A study has been carried out to validate the MnemoCity task for the assessment of spatial short-term memory in children, by comparing the children’s performance in the developed task with current approaches. A total of 160 children participated in the study. The task incorporates two types of interaction: one based on standard interaction and another one based on natural interaction involving physical movement by the user. There were no statistically significant differences in the results of the task using the two types of interaction. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were not found in relation to gender. The correlations between scores were obtained using the MnemoCity task and a traditional procedure for assessing spatial short-term memory. Those results revealed that the type of interaction used did not affect the performance of children in the MnemoCity task.

An immersive virtual reality task with physical movement for the assessment of spatial memory

“…The lower scores of the youngest participants suggest that their visuospatial short-term memory and/or their spatial strategies were relatively weaker during this developmental period. This result is consistent with previous studies (Bullens et al 2010;Purser et al 2012;Nys et al 2015;Mendez-Lopez, Perez-Hernandez, and Juan 2016;Merrill et al 2016) and with the results found by Rodríguez-Andrés et al (2016). They performed descriptive analyses taking into account the age of the participants and the VOL task score.…”

“…The present task assessed not only the ability of the children to recall the place of the objects, but also their way of exploring the interaction area of the VE. The aims of the study by Rodríguez-Andrés et al (2016) were mainly to present the task, to validate the task for the assessment of spatial shortterm memory, and to examine the influence of the type of interaction used on the ability to recall the place of the objects, and the perceived usability and satisfaction of the children with the task.…”

Using a Serious Game to Assess Spatial Memory in Children and Adults

“…Juan et al [46] found similarities in the results using ARSM Task and traditional methods. MnemoCity Task [48] had a virtual reality environment, with passive stereoscopy and natural interaction to evaluate spatial memory in children. The study compared two types of interaction: 1) a gamepad; 2) a steering wheel (with a built-in Wii Remote TM control) and Wii Balance Board TM .…”

A 3D Serious Game for Dental Learning in Higher Education

“…NUI are being incorporated in different types of applications, for example, learning [3], assessment of shortterm memory [4]; training individuals with cognitive impairments [5]; or transforming a paper based process to a NUI process in a chronic care hospital [6].…”