A Kinect-based Interactive Game to Improve the Cognitive Inhibition of the Elderly (Demonstration)

Siyuan Liu (Nanyang Technological University), Zhiqi Shen (Nanyang Technological University), Han Yu (Nanyang Technological University), Han Lin (Nanyang Technological University), Zhengjin Guo (Nanyang Technological University), Zhengxiang Pan (Nanyang Technological University), Chunyan Miao (Nanyang Technological University), Cryil Leung (Nanyang Technological University & The University of British Columbia)

Abstract

Cognitive abilities, including cognitive inhibition, degenerate with the aging process. In this demonstration, we present a Kinect-based interactive game which aims to improve the cognitive inhibition ability of the elderly. The game is designed in the table tennis theme, and the adoption of Kinect makes it convenient for the elderly to use. The players' in-game behaviour data are recorded for the health advisor agent to conduct personalization, analysis, and decision making. A pilot study has been conducted to investigate the relationship between the players' cognitive inhibition abilities and their in-game performance. The study results suggest that the in-game performance can reflect a player's cognitive inhibition ability, and indicate that the game can be used to improve the cognitive inhibition ability of the elderly in the future.