Hong Kong students develop fall-prevention video game to help elderly stay on their feet
- Project by Institute of Vocational Education undergraduates is based on three simple exercises to improve strength, flexibility and coordination
- Game uses 3D motion capture, facial recognition and voice recognition to guide users
Taking a nasty tumble could lead to serious injuries for the elderly, but a new video game made by students from the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) aims to help tackle the issue.
Together with their science teacher, a group of medical centre operations undergraduates have developed a motion-sensing game to train seniors to be less vulnerable to falls.
“Due to the degeneration of the body, older adults often struggle to stay upright amid their lack of strength and balancing skills,” said Dr Lo Sin-on, a registered physiotherapist who helped design the programme.
“With the risks of falling so great, fall prevention is very important, and it begins with exercising,” he added.
What use is living longer when our elderly care is a disgrace?
According to government figures, 2.58 million people in Hong Kong will be 65 and above by 2064, accounting for 35.9 per cent of the population. Meanwhile, the Primary Care Office of the Department of Health warned that between 30 per cent to 40 per cent of community-dwelling older adults over 65 fall at least once every year.