McKay Sandra M, Maki Brian E
Centre for Studies in Aging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada.
Gerontechnology. 2010 Jan 1;9(1):5-17. doi: 10.4017/gt.2010.09.01.001.00.
A computer-based 'Useful Field of View' (UFOV) training program has been shown to be effective in improving visual processing in older adults. Studies of young adults have shown that playing video games can have similar benefits; however, these studies involved realistic and violent 'first-person shooter' (FPS) games. The willingness of older adults to play such games has not been established. OBJECTIVES: To determine the degree to which older adults would accept playing a realistic, violent FPS-game, compared to video games not involving realistic depiction of violence. METHODS: Sixteen older adults (ages 64-77) viewed and rated video-clip demonstrations of the UFOV program and three video-game genres (realistic-FPS, cartoon-FPS, fixed-shooter), and were then given an opportunity to try them out (30 minutes per game) and rate various features. RESULTS: The results supported a hypothesis that the participants would be less willing to play the realistic-FPS game in comparison to the less violent alternatives (p's<0.02). After viewing the video-clip demonstrations, 10 of 16 participants indicated they would be unwilling to try out the realistic-FPS game. Of the six who were willing, three did not enjoy the experience and were not interested in playing again. In contrast, all 12 subjects who were willing to try the cartoon-FPS game reported that they enjoyed it and would be willing to play again. A high proportion also tried and enjoyed the UFOV training (15/16) and the fixed-shooter game (12/15). DISCUSSION: A realistic, violent FPS video game is unlikely to be an appropriate choice for older adults. Cartoon-FPS and fixed-shooter games are more viable options. Although most subjects also enjoyed UFOV training, a video-game approach has a number of potential advantages (for instance, 'addictive' properties, low cost, self-administration at home). We therefore conclude that non-violent cartoon-FPS and fixed-shooter video games warrant further investigation as an alternative to the UFOV program for training improved visual processing in seniors.
基于计算机的“有用视野”（UFOV）训练程序已被证明能有效改善老年人的视觉处理能力。对年轻人的研究表明，玩电子游戏也有类似的益处；然而，这些研究涉及逼真且暴力的“第一人称射击”（FPS）游戏。老年人是否愿意玩这类游戏尚未明确。目的：确定与不涉及暴力逼真描绘的电子游戏相比，老年人接受玩逼真暴力FPS游戏的程度。方法：16名老年人（年龄64 - 77岁）观看并对UFOV程序及三种电子游戏类型（逼真FPS、卡通FPS、固定射击游戏）的视频片段演示进行评分，然后有机会试用这些游戏（每种游戏30分钟）并对各种特征进行评分。结果：结果支持了这样一个假设，即与暴力程度较低的游戏相比，参与者玩逼真FPS游戏的意愿较低（p值<0.02）。观看视频片段演示后，16名参与者中有10人表示他们不愿意试用逼真FPS游戏。在愿意试用的6人中，有3人不喜欢这次体验，也不想再玩。相比之下，所有12名愿意试用卡通FPS游戏的受试者都表示喜欢，并且愿意再玩。很大一部分人也试用并喜欢UFOV训练（15/16）和固定射击游戏（12/15）。讨论：逼真暴力的FPS电子游戏不太可能是老年人的合适选择。卡通FPS和固定射击游戏是更可行的选择。虽然大多数受试者也喜欢UFOV训练，但电子游戏方法有一些潜在优势（例如，“上瘾”特性、低成本、可在家自行操作）。因此，我们得出结论，非暴力的卡通FPS和固定射击电子游戏作为UFOV程序的替代方案，用于训练老年人改善视觉处理能力，值得进一步研究。
