“Interactive surfaces” technology as a potential tool to stimulate physical activity in psychogeriatric nursing home residents

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to determine whether and how psychogeriatric nursing home residents would respond to the interactive surfaces on the floor without receiving instructions and to determine how long residents would be physically active. METHODS: The "interactive surfaces" technology includes different graphic shapes that are projected through a beamer on a floor. The surfaces are "activated" by a person's movements in the area of the projection field, which is detected by an infrared camera. Every day for 1 h during an 11-day period one of seven different projections was shown. Spontaneous observed physical responses were counted, clustered and visualized in a tree diagram. Duration of physically responses was measured per session and during the total observation period of 11 h. RESULTS: During 343 of 490 observations residents (n = 58) noticed the interactive surface and in 148 observations they engaged physically. In total, 4067 s (1 h, 7 min and 47 s) of physical activity were measured. Individual times that residents were active ranged from 3 to 415 s. CONCLUSIONS: Interactive surfaces technology may be a promising tool in psychogeriatric nursing home residents to stimulate physical activity. Further research is needed to assess its full potential. Implications for Rehabilitation Innovative technology used to adapt the environment might stimulate nursing home residents to become more physically active. The use of innovative technologies may increase physical activity without necessarily increasing the workload of care professionals.

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