The Development of a Gamified System for Fall Prevention : with a usability perspective

Abstract: Fall injuries are affecting many individuals' physical and psychological well-being, especially among older adults. Moreover, fall accidents are found to be the most common type of work-related accident in various industries. Thus, there is a need for fall prevention exercises supported by a gamified system to ensure user engagement and motivation. The system's usability is also highly relevant to guarantee the acceptance and satisfaction of the users. This study examined the characteristics regarding usability required within such a system with the goal of preventing falls among adults between 45 to 69 years old. The intention was to implement and design a web-based system that incorporates usability and gamification features. The system was developed through an iterative user-centered design approach utilizing user tests in each iteration and conducted in collaboration with Atea and a research team at Mälardalens University. The study revealed that among the user group, simplicity, consistency, and motivation through gamification were all key characteristics of the system. Furthermore, personalization was found to be an important characteristic to ensure a satisfactory user experience. Overall, the thesis contributed to the development of a gamified web-based system for fall injury prevention, focusing on usability.