ABSTRACT
By the 21century, the elderly population will exceed the total population of the last century. The issue of caring for the elderly has resulted in the need for health care, assisted living, and independence of the elderly. Previous research has confirmed that introducing health technology at an early stage can encourage the elderly to continue their activities, promote their independence and reduce the cost of social care. In this study, which applies the advantages of virtual reality (VR) technology, Unity 3D software is used to design VR dumbbell motion software for the elderly. This software can provide positive excitation and enable the elderly to maintain continuous motion. The objectives of this research are as follows: (1) to construct VR prototypes; (2) to test their usability (i.e., operating efficiency, visibility, and error rate); and (3) to study the emotional response of interfaces. This study adopted the Self-Assessment Manikin to measure emotion and the questionnaires for user interaction satisfaction to measure usability. Interface experts were also invited to conduct experiments, fill in questionnaires and provide interviews. The comparison of the VR application programs with physical dumbbells yields the following conclusions. The VR application programs are more pleasant. The real water dumbbell interface feels slightly stronger. The interface learning performance of the VR application programs is better. The preliminary conclusions drawn from this study can be used as a reference for designers. Scholars are expected to conduct further explorations.
