Videogame technology to support seniors

The current demographic ageing in Europe is the result of a relevant economic, social, and medical development. This is also leading to an increase in the demand for Long Term Care (LTC) by seniors. One viable way to offer qualified cares at home, while at the same time containing costs, is to exploit digital technologies as enablers of a constant interaction with assisting personnel. In this paper we tackle this problem proposing a solution based on technology commonly used for videogames: we aim to provide remote at-home support to seniors exploiting intuitive and noninvasive off-the-shelf technology. We first describe a design methodology for the system, then the feasibility of current technology is evaluated and a prototype application is shown. The proposed system, thanks to its user-friendly interfaces and smooth learning curve, will contribute in minimizing the interference in the elder’s private life.