Granny gamers get lesson in balance

Neuroscience Research Australia’s, Dr Stuart Smith, would like to see a decline in the number of falls experienced by older Australians – and hopes the centre’s video game project, iStoppFalls, plays a role in making this happen.

Senior research officer, Dr Smith and his colleague, falls expert, Dr Kim Delbaere, are working with European research and industry partners on the iStoppFalls project to develop technology-based monitoring and exercise programs for older Australians living at home.

According to the researchers, they will tailor falls prevention programs to the individual without incurring huge costs usually associated with individualised treatment.

“We are seeing emerging awareness of the fact we can use computer technology that is in the home to acquire markers of health,” Dr Smith tells DPS News.

“So, we’re increasingly trying to see which technologies transfer some of the health burden tools, enabling seniors to monitor some characteristics of their own health,” he explains.

Describing television as the “most familiar in-home” technology, Dr Smith says they will look at existing video game consoles and try to “make use of it”.

Games such as Dance Revolution – where gamers can mimic on-screen dance moves – may prove beneficial for seniors living at home.

“The music on this game is not appropriate for older people, so what we’re suggesting is let’s take that basic game and create music and dance moves more appropriate for the older generation,” Dr Smith suggests.

Video games such as Fruit Ninja, where gamers smash virtual fruit, may also help elderly people from falling, and easily recover from medical problems while keeping fit.

“Not only are we addressing health needs, but we’re also starting an international lead on how to translate the kind of work we do in the lab to everyday life by putting technologies into the home and using them to keep track of better health,” Dr Smith explains.

“Teenagers might be the biggest users of technology right now, but senior technology and video games are going to revolutionise the lives of older people by preventing falls and improving quality of life,” Dr Delbaere adds.

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