Elderly user experience to improve a Kinect-based game playability

Abstract

When it comes to using computers, older people experience many barriers, which are a considerable hurdle to overcome in order to enable them to accept technological aids. Thus, computer interface design and development must support elderly end users by avoiding many usability issues which lead to negative impacts on them. This paper describes the combination of a computer game design for the elderly and its implementation with user experience considerations embedded in the process. In this way, a positive gaming experience is provided to the end user. This game uses the Kinect device, enabling users to interact intuitively with the computer without any intermediary controller, and its main purpose is to promote at the same time cognitive and physical activities for healthy living. Feedback was taken from physiotherapists’ written observations and user experience questionnaires, which allowed the game to be adapted to their needs, obtaining 86.25% satisfaction. The effectiveness of this study opens the door to new developments in ICT that not only improve quality of life but also reduce the existing digital divide for the elderly.

Keywords:

• user experience
• elderly
• playability
• serious game
• Kinect

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude for the cooperation of the Santa y Real Casa de la Misericordia de Bilbao nursing home. Our special thanks go to the end users who participated in evaluation of the game and to Jose Maeso Deustotech's researcher.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding

This work was partially supported by the BIZKAILAB Initiative of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.