Brain Workout, An Application for Enhancing Memory and Problem Solving Skills.

• Main Author: Lo , Daphnee Kah Yii
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS 2012
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/6269/1/5.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/6269/

The purpose of this project is to propose a mobile application that is able to enhance cognitive development among retirees by learning games that will help to stimulate their brain. Retiree that no longer remained active in their daily life faces a reduced attention span, low concentration, and reduced problem solving skills. When an individual no longer engage in their working activities, this will lead to a decrease of cognitive ability among individuals, which may result to suffering Dementia. Dementia is an illness of the brain. When someone has Dementia, brain cells are damaged and die faster than they normally would. The scope of this study is limited to retirees aged 45 to 75 years old where the transition is more likely to occur from a person that works each day turning to a person that is less active. There are several factors that will affect Dementia either positively or negatively which includes retirement. “Use It or Lose It” by Connors, Jimmy reflects a hypothesis where a person can delay or prevent normal cognitive aging or they might just lose it. Mental exercises are proven to be able to prevent or delay Dementia. The methodology used to complete this application is agile software development methodology that refers to a group of software development methodologies which based on iterative development. Tools used include MIT App Inventor which is a popular platform to develop an Android application. Surveys are done on similar games in Android and iOS platform. Online games focusing on senior adults are analyzed. Research on receptiveness of older adults towards technology and usefulness of technology to slow down Dementia were done. Considerations of design especially in the area of graphical user interface were researched to increase effectiveness of application design to suit the aging adults. Thus, an Android application in the form of brain exercise game is proposed which is used to stimulate mental exercise to enhance memory and problem thinking skills among retirees.