NBN-enabled, videogame-based telehealth technology

delivering health services to regional, rural and remote Australia

Stuart Smith

Technology Research for Independent Living

Develop technology for in-home monitoring of factors associated with falls, cognitive function and social connectivity in older adults

Technology Platform

Ethnography

Falls

Cog

nitiv

e Fu

nctio

n

Soci

al

Con

nect

ivity

Ethnography

Technology Platform

Background

A great testbed for technology

Coffs HarbourMid-north coast NSW

Coffs Harbour

Scotts Head

Here’s a typical health service delivery problem

Neurologist from Sydney 1/month

Entire day for a 10 minute consultation

~50km

people living with PD in regional NSW

Falls are a major factor for reduced independence in

older adults

1/3 community dwelling older adults (>65 yo) fall

each year

Total health cost to NSW alone in 2006/2007 $553M

$18,454 per hospital admission

Another fairly typical health problem

We know fall risk can be reduced by exercise

High dosage of exercise is required (eg > 50 hrs or twice/week for 25 weeks).

Interactive video games might offer a way to ensure compliance with exercise

What can be done about them?

Can existing technology facilitate independent living in older adults?

Can we use the television to facilitate independent living?

Videogames and older adults?????????

Video games have often received bad press with respect to health

increased aggression and violence

addiction to gameplay

increased sedentary behaviour

epileptic seizures

Wii knee, haemothorax and ruptured tendons

Do older adults play video games?

1034 individuals aged 36-50, 58% play video games

912 aged 51-65 52% play video games

221 aged 65+, 51% play video games

“Interactive Australia 2009” Brand (2009)

National survey of 1614 households

Exergames like the Nintendo Wii

Dance Dance Revolution

Presents cognitively challenging, physical exercise to train rapid stepping

Our approach

video removedshowed standard DDR game

A more age appropriate version

video removedshowed our modified DDR

So how will this work in the home?

QuickTime and aª decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

1. Engage people in exercise 2. Measure performance over the long term

DDR system can also be used to measure fall risk over time

Choice Stepping Reaction Time

video removedshowed CSRT video

1350

1000

1050

1100

1150

1200

1250

1300

Ste

pp

ing

tim

e (m

s)

Fallers Non-fallers

Fall

risk

Date

Mrs Smith, it looks like you have been a bit unsteady on

your feet lately. Is there anything we can do for you?

Use DDR to measure fall risk over time

Provide health information feedback to older person and their

support network

Videogames as a telehealth technology

Where to from here?

Instructor

video removedshowed Yourshape Fitness Evolved

Thank you, if you’re so inclined, join our Facebook group to learn more.

(Games for Health Australasia)

s.smith@neura.edu.au