The Andragogical Perspectives of Older Adults’ Interaction With Digital Game Technologies:

Gameplay on Gesture and Touch-Based Platforms

Suriati K Jali1 & Sylvester Arnab2

1Serious Games Institute, Coventry University, UK2Disruptive Media Learning Lab, Coventry University, UK

@sarnab75

By 2050, one in five people in the world will be 60

years of age or older (Akitunde, 2012)

Ageing population - growing faster than any other

age group, predicted to reach 2 billion by 2050 (Aalbers et al., 2011, WHO, 2002)

MocoSpace, 2011

Most models or frameworks for

designing and developing games

were generic and commonly

aiming for younger users… (Ijsselsteijn et al., 2007; Mubin and Al

Mahmud, 2008; De Schutter and Abeele,

2008)

In addition to ensuring usability of games for seniors, we need to make sure that there are substantial perceived benefits for elderly users so that they are willing

to invest their valuable time and energy in whatcould potentially be a rich and rewarding experience…(Ijsselsteijn et al, 2007)

Adults learn or perceive thing is different from children (Knowles, 1984)

Andragogy vs. design?

Aim

To investigate the perspectives from this the target group

in terms of their direct interaction and experience with

digital game technologies, specifically based on gesture and

touch-based platforms.

MethodologyProcedure

• Multiple series of focus groups (Coventry City, July – November 2014)

Fig. 1 Focus group flow chart

Why Console & Tablet?

• offer natural user interface (NUI) and

intuitive,

• to ease the interaction between the

participant and technologies in natural ways

(Tanaka et al., 2012)

** Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction (QUIS)

Table 1 Phase 1 Criteria (Preliminary Study)

Console Tablet

Natural Interaction (body movement)

Unnatural Interaction

Action Games (Physical)

12

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

Example of Games

Fig. 2 Examples of games

Results and Discussion View’s on Gameplay using Console and Tablet

Mann–Whitney U test was conducted and showed a significant difference between console and tablet for two items; Player Enjoy Playing the Game (U (25) = 35.5, Z = -2.671, p = 0.008), Player in Total Control (U (25) = 44.5, Z = -2.130, p = 0.033).

The result reveals that when the older people were in a total control of utilising the platform, they found enjoyment and engagement in playing the game.

Fig. 3 Players’ views on Gameplay using Console and Tablet

Gameplay Interactions and Challenges Associated to Ageing

• Simple, relevant information and clear instructions are important (i.e.

written, auditory)

– “Need to make sure the printing is big. I couldn’t see that straight. My glasses need

changes. Older people needed big, bold print”

• Less elements in interface design was preferable (i.e. require less working

memory)

– “I also think you don't want too much extra stuff on the screen that you don't need. I

just want to see what the stuff that I got to deal with, not allowed other stuff around”.

• Adjustable interfaces (i.e. font type & size, screen resolution, volume) -

helpful for those who have eyes sight and hearing problems

• No timer should be included in the game

– “I don’t like time-limited thing. This is because some people take longer to learn things

than others”

• Games that required less strength and memory - involves no input

device (i.e. controller) and includes body movement (i.e. physical game)

• A tutorial or instruction screen need to be included and displayed

before playing

• Typing can be replaced by voice recognition, touch screens - helpful

when having difficulty with wrist/elbow movement that the mouse

needed

• The platform physical characteristics (size, weight, battery lifespan)

Conclusions

• Essential for the perspectives (experiences and interactions) of older people to be

considered when selecting and/or designing games for this target group

• Highlights- when considering the interaction and experience of older people with

digital games:-

1) Control

2) Interpersonal and social needs

3) Degree of freedom and autonomy the platform provides, portability and ease of use

4) Gameplay interaction and challenges associated with age-related changes

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Thank YouSuriati K Jali1 & Sylvester Arnab2

jalis@uni.coventry.ac.uk

1Serious Games Institute, Coventry University, UK2Disruptive Media Learning Lab, Coventry University, UK