User Research & Design of Synchronous Game App

The Challenge

This project was inspired by an issue I personally faced. My father is aging, and I tried to find ways to connect with him that will help him be social as well as actively engage his brain in order to prevent cognitive issues.

Why? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, loneliness and separation can lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Older Americans spend a lot of time alone when they live independently. A recent Pew Research Center report found older adults spend more than half of their time alone.

The problem is, while socialization is good, it’s better to engage other parts of the brain in order to protect it from decline. Researchers have found that regularly engaging in a mix of activities — social activities, learning, and playing games — provides the most benefit.

The Problem to Solve

One solution is for seniors to not just connect, but also activate different parts of the brain. Video games have been shown to grow brain matter and improve short term memory.

How might we design a tool that engages family members face-to-face over geographic distance while providing opportunities to engage in memory-building and active learning?

This project was inspired by an issue I personally faced. My father is aging, and I tried to find ways to connect with him that will help him be social as well as actively engage his brain in order to prevent cognitive issues.

Why? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, loneliness and separation can lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Older Americans spend a lot of time alone when they live independently. A recent Pew Research Center report found older adults spend more than half of their time alone.

The problem is, while socialization is good, it’s better to engage other parts of the brain in order to protect it from decline. Researchers have found that regularly engaging in a mix of activities — social activities, learning, and playing games — provides the most benefit.

The Problem to Solve

One solution is for seniors to not just connect, but also activate different parts of the brain. Video games have been shown to grow brain matter and improve short term memory.

How might we design a tool that engages family members face-to-face over geographic distance while providing opportunities to engage in memory-building and active learning?

Cindy Brummer
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