elderly
Regulars
Why Games Should Have A Few More Senior Moments
5:00AM Owen Good | In video games, senior citizens are largely stereotyped NPCs. Rare is the kind of game like Metal Gear Solid 4, with a truly aged, playable protagonist. Can games create more roles for the elderly? Should they? More »
Culture
Study Examines Boom Blox For Benefits To Elderly Cognition
2:00AM Owen Good | The National Science Foundation has given two universities a million dollars to study whether video games can improve thinking skills in the elderly. They’re using Boom Blox in the research. More »Brain Age Creator Creating Intelligent Toyotas
2:30PM Mike Fahey | Professor Ryuta Kawashima is the master of brain training. Having trained the brains of millions of gamers, he has now taken the next logical step – training the brains of Toyotas. Toyota and Kawashima are currently together on various technologies to help older drivers drive safely. Technologies such as intelligent systems that monitor a driver’s behavior in order to curb dangerous behavior, such as sudden increases or decreases in speed, falling asleep at the wheel, or getting in the car in the first place. “We envision future cars will be able to monitor brain and emotional activity to back up elderly drivers,” said Kawashima, a Tohoku University scientist who worked on Nintendo Co.’s best-selling “Brain Age” games _ and whose smiling image is the guide in the series. While I am all for promoting driving safety, I just don’t know about helping the elderly drive longer. I respect the elderly. I have some of the elderly in my family. I just think there is a certain point where you have to resign yourself that you can no longer safely operate a vehicle. I know Kawashima’s heart is in the right place, but age happens. More »
Old People Sometimes Play Wii, We Get It Already
2:40AM Mark Wilson | Dear mainstream media, Please listen up. Some senior citizens in some retirement homes play the Wii. We heard the story before, and it was really nice. And then we heard it about 1000 times since. This is no longer a story, along with these other topics: 1. The Wii is in demand this Christmas. 2. It will be tough to get a Wii this Christmas, especially for a senior. 3. Elvis is still alive, and he owns a Wii. As an alternative, may we recommend that Wii causes cancer story you’ve prewritten for January. Thank-you, You friendly Kotaku staff. Nintendo’s Wii a surprise hit with seniors [msn] Thanks Colin! More »
