Android tablet game development for dementia patient - games (2)

Abstract

Singapore’s medical facilities are among the finest worldwide. In the Asia-Pacific region, its health system is recognized as the best according to the World Health Organization’s ranking in 2000 . However, the greying demographic has been rising at a faster pace due to higher life expectancy and declining birth rates. As it is, the median age of its population is 40.5 years old, which exceeds the projected median for ASEAN in 2020 by a decade. Consequently, the prevalence of dementia in Singapore has also been predicted to increase in years to come. In the field of dementia care, there have been increasing efforts in various aspects. One promising area thus far is in the field of technology. Scientists have delved into the use of mobile devices and applications as an aid to combat the disease. With the rising adoption of smart phones and mobile applications island-wide, it is the perfect method to conduct checks and analysis without causing any discomfort to the patients. Hence, the purpose of this project is to create an application which would serve as a cognitive aid for dementia patients. Memory Advancement Prototype (M.A.P) is a picture memory game that aims to stimulate their minds in bids to reduce the deterioration of its functions. It specifically uses images of general activities to strike a sense of familiarity within its users. 2 separate modes are created to stimulate different types of memory where the data will be accurately captured for their doctors or caretakers to monitor their condition. M.A.P was carefully developed and designed to create a realistic and enjoyable experience for its users. Hence, extensive research on the types of issues that plague the target audience have been done to understand them better. Findings from various sources have been integrated within the game to ensure a better experience. A sample group has been surveyed where the results conclude that the game does stimulate their memory functions sufficiently. A few aspects that can be improved on to elevate M.A.P to the next level are covered in the final section.