Join-In aims to support the AAL Joint Programme by setting up a social platform and thus creating an environment that enables elderly people to communicate; socialise; play communicative multiplayer computer games; and exercise either by exergames or by moderated exercises. Join-In will support people maintaining and setting up contacts to others sharing similar interests -foremost on a regional basis- and facilitate contact to family and friends. Multiplayer video gaming, exergames and exercising in a group are considered key activities for attracting senior citizens to the network.
Join-In will assess the user requirements aims to develop a methodology on how to best attract the target group to such a network. The technical developments of the project include:
- a technical platform that connects to PCs or TVs with an interactive web-enabled set-top box;
- the customisation of access facilities, such as controllers and adaptation of games which take
- into account the constraints of senior citizens;
- the development of computer-/ exergames and virtual exercising for the targeted user group.
Objectives
Join-In aims to provide a means for elderly home-bound people to escape social isolation. It will enable and enforce communication by providing the necessary technologies and by offering activities that encourage socialising. Within the project Join-In will offer a variety of activities to motivate, but also to activate the elderly: communication by social networking, multi player gaming, exergaming and virtual exercising. This will help the seniors to keep active and promote health -as preliminary studies have demonstrated. The activities will be accessible via PC or TV and set-top box. The users will be involved in the project development at all stages.
Expected results and impact
Join-In will set up a social platform which will include online socialising, multiplayer gaming, group exercises, exergames, sharing experiences/chat clubs and other activities resulting from the user requirement analysis.
Developments include the social platform accessible by PC or TV and set top box, customised controllers, a multiplayer game, an exergame, exercising for the elderly and a motivation methodology. Join-In will contribute to the goals of AAL and have a vital impact on the target group’s well-being and add to their quality of life
Contact
Claudia Hildebrand
E.: hildebra@helmholtz-muenchen.de
T.: +49 89 3187 4182
