Conference Proceedings
Active Ageing with Avatars: A Virtual Exercise Class for Older Adults
EV Cyarto, F Batchelor, S Baker, B Dow, C Parker (ed.)
Proceedings of the 28th Australian Conference on Computer-Human Interaction - OzCHI '16 | ACM | Published : 2016
Abstract
In this paper we describe the development and testing of a virtual exercise class for older people delivered in real-time using active gaming technology (Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360). Four seniors (women, aged 64--74) participated. Each person received a gaming console and face-to-face instruction. At a set time each week for 6 weeks, participants logged on to take part in a 30-minute exercise class led by an instructor. On-screen, each person was represented by an avatar (Avatar Kinect software). Participants were able to see the avatars on their television screen and hear each other via headsets. Overall, we found the virtual exercise class format to be feasible and acceptable to older..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the participants who generously gave their time to this project. We wish to acknowledge the contributions of the project partners: AARNet, Infoxchange, Melbourne Networked Society Institute, Merri Community Health Services, Microsoft, Moreland City Council, and NBNCo and members of the steering committee and working group: Professor Elizabeth Ozanne, Doug Farmer, David Spriggs, Deenesh Suddoo, Simon Edwards, Kate Cornick, Adam Lodders, Brad Gathercole, Shadi Hannah, Kim Manderson, Rebecca Haack, Liz Harvey, Sean Casey and Sue Healy. This project was funded by the Victorian Department of State Development, Business and Innovation under the Broadband Enabled Innovation Program (BEIP).