Modelling of Framework Focusing on Older People Interaction and Experience with Digital Games using Andragogical Perspectives

In recent years, the application of games is becoming a popular medium in promoting a healthy lifestyle and improving the quality of life especially for older people; for instance fostering social connectedness which is motivated and stimulated through social interaction, cognitive exercises and physical activity that can be afforded by digital game technology. It is essential that users or players are captivated and engaged by the game before any serious purposes/activities can be imposed. However, there are no specific guidelines/frameworks or processes in terms of using games to address challenges faced by this population. Most models or frameworks for designing and developing games are particularly developed for generic use and broadly aiming for younger users in mind. This research aims to investigate the correlation between the challenges associated with older people, their existing engagement with digital gaming and the andragogical perspectives. To note, we are targeting the older people between the age of 55 to 75 with no serious illness for this study. An empirical investigation into user interaction and experiences with a focus on the older people and their engagement with digital games will thus lead towards validated insights into game design personalised to the needs and expectations of the target population. The framework for designing and developing a digital game focusing older people is formed, with a specific focus towards Malaysian society. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, a working prototype (digital game) is designed and developed as a proof of concept. This proposed framework for a s pecific target group of older people in Malaysia is deemed important as the challenges of dementia, depression, anxiety, etc. are growing in numbers. It could become the catalyst to overcome the issue of spiralling healthcare cost when the older people become the dominant group in Malaysia in the future.