Augmented Reality Games for Health Promotion in Old Age

Augmented reality game concepts can be used for health-related purposes in old age. Physical activity is a key aspect for healthy aging. Conceptual considerations and current research in the field of technology and aging are examined here to recommend designs for augmented reality games for older adults. We explore relevant trends in augmented reality and possibilities to integrate this technology into individual health promotion. Research on the use of mobile devices and applications by older people, and older adults’ interest in using this technology for health-related purposes is presented. From this we deduce older adults’ readiness to use augmented reality games on mobile devices in their everyday lives and for health promotion. Design recommendations include considerations of which technology is used by older people, how to create meaningful games, how to involve older adults’ social networks, issues of data security, and the special requirements for designing health-related augmented reality games as a whole. The combination of empirical findings from gerontological and technical research groups allows us to discuss these issues in a broader perspective and define relevant factors for developing augmented reality games for older adults.