games and working memory training

1

Smartkuber – Tangible Augmented Reality Cognitive Games

Simon McCallumNorwegian University of Science and Technology,

Faculty of Informatics, Gjøvik, 2815, Norwaye-mail: simon.mcccallum@ntnu.no

Costas BoletsisSINTEF ICT,

Networked Systems & Services, Oslo, 0373, Norwaye-mail: konstantinos.boletsis@sintef.no

2

Smartkuber is a game designed to both stimulate and test cognitive ability. The game uses wooden blocks and a mobile device as the interactive components. The game challenges are presented on the phone, the player then constructs the answer using the blocks, and uses the phone to check their answer, get a score and move on to the next challenge.

The game is designed to substitute for traditional paper cognitive screening tests. Smartkuber includes games which strongly correlate with test performance in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool.

The current implementation is being extended to encourage play between Elderly and young children. The social aspects and the automatic detection of the player are important improvements in the long term commercial prospects of the game.

3

Cognitive Screening

4

ProblemTest . . . . . . . . . re-test

5

6

In home vs In clinic

7

Iteration

8

Design

9

MethodNeed an image of blocks with phone,

Then blocks

Then blocks with answer

10

Fun

11

Correlation

12

PlayfulBlocks and kids

13

Lessons

14

LessonsRegular content

15

FutureGrandparents and children

16

FutureMultiple different set of blocks

Different Ages

Language, numeracy, orientation

17

ConclusionMake your interaction simple

Make it Physical

Make it Robust

Listen to your Players