Publication
Senior-friendly Platform for Cognitive Training
Kinga Schumacher; Julie L. O`Sullivan; Anika Steinert; Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen; Norbert Reithinger
In: Wohnen – Pflege – Teilhabe – „Besser leben durch Technik“. Deutscher AAL-Kongress (AAL), 7. Deutscher AAL-Kongress mit Ausstellung, January 21-22, Berlin, Germany, VDE-Verlag, 2014.
Abstract
With increasing age, there is a decline of cognitive performance and other functions of everyday life. Therefore, approaches to sustain and support the level of intellectual functioning in older adults are of enormous importance. Numerous studies have demonstrated that computer-based cognitive training can contribute to the preservation of independence and the enhancement of quality of life in old age. Against this background, the „LeVer – Lernen gegen das Vergessen“ (Learning against oblivion) project designed a web-based platform focused on the senior. The platform offers the opportunity to conduct a diverse and scientifically established cognitive training program in their home environment. Furthermore, it offers various communication-features, in order to promote social interaction. Particularly in the field of cognitive training, it is essential that the operating concept is suitable for the target group and provides a senior-friendly user interface. The handling of the platform and the training should release cognitive resources instead of consume them. However, there are no design guidelines for this use case. To close this gap, agerelated impairments were evaluated with respect to their effects on the handling of technical devices and software systems, respectively. Moreover, the existing relevant guidelines were analyzed. The results were collected in design guidelines suitable for the elderly and substantiated in an application specific style guide and interaction concept. This paper presents an overview of the current status of the project, based on selected examples of interaction concepts of the platform and the first results of a development-related usability tests.