Development and Evaluation of a Prototype VR Application for the Elderly, that can Help to Prevent Effects Related to Social Isolation

Abstract

The elderly need to communicate with their loved ones but they also need to get engaged in activities that require mental awareness as a means of preventing negative side-effects related to brain inactivity. This area of research is becoming increasingly important during periods of social isolation caused either by external factors, such as a pandemic, or by factors associated with reduced mobility in the elderly. In this paper, a prototype Virtual Reality application that will allow elderly users to deal with the problems of social isolation, while providing an entertaining brain-triggering activity, is presented. While this is work in progress, the results of an initial user evaluation provides insights related to the strengths and limitations of the prototype application, allowing the derivations of conclusions that can guide further development of the final application.