A Cognitive-Based Board Game With Augmented Reality for Older Adults: Development and Usability Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Game Design

Background:

• Regular physical and social activities are crucial for older adults' cognitive and physical health.
• Games can effectively engage older individuals in these beneficial activities.
• A novel collaborative, cognitive-based board game, Nostalgic Seekers, was developed using augmented reality (AR) to enhance cognitive engagement in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the user experience of the Nostalgic Seekers board game with older adults.
• To understand how the game fosters communication, problem-solving, and emotional responses.
• To assess the suitability and effectiveness of augmented reality (AR) technology in game design for this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A user study involving 23 participants aged 50-59 years.
• Observation and recording of participant interactions during gameplay, analyzed using Bales' interaction process analysis.
• Post-session interviews to gather qualitative feedback on the gaming experience.

Main Results:

• Quantitative analysis revealed a higher frequency of task-oriented communication over social-emotional communication, with a strong positive correlation between task-oriented actions and game scores.
• Qualitative findings indicated that participants enjoyed the game, with nostalgic elements eliciting positive emotions.
• Augmented reality (AR) technology was well-received and contributed to effective player engagement.

Conclusions:

• Nostalgic Seekers successfully provided cognitive stimulation and social engagement for older adult players.
• The study highlights the potential of integrating AR technology into cognitive-based games for the elderly.
• Future research should focus on strategies for sustained and regular player engagement in digital games for older adults.