Video game for the intellectually disabled

“Three years ago we began to use information and communication technologies in the activities we organise with our users and we realised that there was nothing on the market, education or entertainment-wise, which fit our needs. That's when the idea arose to create a new product, something specifically adapted to us", explains Xavier Martínez Biosca, director of CIPO, a social integration and employment centre.

The result is CIPOActivity, a video game to boost the physical and emotional well-being of people of any age with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders. The game was developed by researchers from the UAB Centre for Accessibility and Environmental Intelligence (CAiAC), in collaboration with psychology experts from CIPO. The project received financial aid from the call for projects promoting autonomy and attention for the disabled “Promoció de l’autonomia i l’atenció a la discapacitat i a la dependència", from the programme Aids to Social Initiative Projects from the Obra Social de "la Caixa".

The video games meet the therapeutic needs established by specialists and at the same time contain the educational and entertainment components of any serious video game. “At the technical level, we programmed a slower rhythm in the development of the events, so that the stimuli are not as fast and the players can react more easily. We made sure that the instructions were simple and easy to understand and we adjusted the levels of movement sensors as much as we could; therefore, the system awards points for small intentional actions which conventional games wouldn't take into consideration", says Enric Martí, CAiAC researcher in charge of coordinating the project.

From aerobic choreographies to relaxation exercises
CIPOActivity uses Kinect devices, which allows users to play only with the movement of their body, and it includes four games focused on the following themes: music, colours, relaxation and "the forest of games" which is made up of four mini-games. The player must overcome different trials in front of a screen, a computer and the Kinect device, and is guided in some of the activities by a virtual monitor. The design and animation of the characters was done with a design and 3D modelling program, and the music was composed specially for game as well. The video game can be played in Catalan, Spanish, and in English.

“All games have a physical component, but at the same time we wanted to work with other skills in order to stimulate other areas and cognitive functions”, comments Aurora Piguillem, a CIPO psychologist who participated in the design of the video game.

The proposals go from the learning and development of aerobic choreographies and gymnastic exercises to relaxation methods, which work different cognitive and motor skills, such as attention and concentration, balance, memory, coordination, flexibility, breathing, visualisation and stimulating the senses.

“Earning points and seeing the final results are never a reason for worrying and we always encourage players to continue and to try again. Plus, we keep a record of each player's points, so we can do an objective follow-up of how they progress”, adds Aurora Piguillem.

A prototype of the video game is being used already at the CIPO facilities, with a wide acceptance among its users. In the near future, CIPO will offer more information on the game so that other centres and individuals can use them. “We are already thinking of the possibility of expanding to other levels and scenarios, or to develop other projects within the field of serious games, since we still have material”, concludes Xavier Martínez Biosca.

The company Kaneda Games also participated in the development of the video game. A total of fifteen researchers, designers and psychologists collaborated on this project.

Sample of CIPOActivity games