Gamified Social Health

Within the 'Social Health Games' project it was investigated how digital games could be used to strengthen the social network of elderly people and reduce their loneliness. For this purpose, a randomized and controlled study was conducted on the games application SamenSpelen developed by Radboud University. Due to limited enrollment and coronary restrictions, they had to discontinue this study early. Using the lessons learned from this study, they further developed the app and investigated in a small-scale pilot study how it was experienced by older people. The development of this new app was accomplished largely through the PPP grant.

PhotoSlang
This new app, FotoSlang, retains only the most important and valuable core elements from the previous app. FotoSlang consists of a chat environment in which elderly people can play the game "FotoSlang" with each other, in which a picture is sent of something beginning with the last letter of the object in the previous picture. The premise of this game is that the pictures are a glimpse into someone's personal environment, and create opportunities for conversation. Because this conversation is about someone's personal life, this contact will be considered valuable.

This project was created with the help of PPP Project Grant.