Gamification Enhances User Engagement and Task Performance in Prosthetic Vision Testing

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Visual function testing for retinal prosthesis users is often cognitively demanding and fatiguing.
• Gamification strategies may enhance user engagement but their impact on perceptual performance is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of gamification on visual perceptual performance and user experience in Argus II retinal prosthesis users.
• To determine if gamified visual function tests improve accuracy and engagement compared to traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• Three Argus II users performed circle localization and motion direction discrimination tasks in both clinical and gamified formats.
• Gamified versions incorporated scoring, music, and feedback; difficulty was individually calibrated.
• Performance metrics (accuracy, error) and user experience (enjoyment, attention) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Gamification significantly improved localization accuracy and reduced angular error.
• Motion discrimination performance did not improve and showed reduced precision in one user under gamified conditions.
• Users preferred gamified localization, reporting higher enjoyment and sustained attention; responses to gamified motion were mixed.

Conclusions:

• Gamification can influence performance and user experience in prosthetic vision testing, with benefits being task-dependent and variable across individuals.
• Engagement strategies can impact outcomes in tests previously considered objective.
• Personalized, adaptive gamified tools hold potential for improving prosthetic vision assessment and rehabilitation.