Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions – AICOS
08.3.2019
The CogniPlay’s pilots, under project ReHab, have started today at Cáritas Diocesana de Coimbra, where at least for one year, senior users will have 56 tablets available to interact with this gaming platform, created to work as the first step for seniors’ experimenting new technological devices, while providing cognitive stimulation through games targeting several different areas of the cognitive domain.
Older adults are often excluded from our digital society due to the inadequacy of modern systems. It is often the case that seniors' refusal to learn or handle technological devices stems from their lack of ability to read small fonts or comprehend complex instructions. Besides being a valuable tool in our daily lives, technology can also play a key role in stimulating seniors’ cognitive abilities, for example, aiding the improvement of memory and attention.
ReHab, a project of Cáritas Diocesana de Coimbra, aims at preventing and controlling the most common cognitive and motor diseases in older citizens. As one of the partners, Fraunhofer AICOS’ main contribution to this project is CogniPlay.
CogniPlay is a tablet-based gaming platform that provides cognitive stimulation through games targeting several different areas of the cognitive domain, with its primary audience being the senior population. This platform acts as a first step in senior’s experience and interaction with new technological devices.
CogniPlay has already undergone extensive usability testing with older adults, having resulted in a solution that meets senior’s needs and specific characteristics, considering both their capabilities and limitations.
Nevertheless, CogniPlay enters now a new and massive testing phase, in which for 1 year, 56 tablets will provide this gaming platform directly into the hands of end users, the senior of Cáritas Diocesana de Coimbra.
Project ReHab is an initiative funded by Banco BPI under the BPI Seniors 2018 program coordinated by Cáritas Diocesana de Coimbra and includes Fraunhofer AICOS and Instituto Pedro Nunes as partners.