Barron Associates Awarded Grant for Development of Virtual World Based Games to Motivate Strength and Balance Exercise

Barron Associates’ Strength and BALance (SABAL) program targets reduction of fall risk in older adults through fun, meaningful, and motivating games that incorporate evidence-based exercises and automatic generation of fall risk metrics. The product, consisting of virtual world-based gaming software and an off-the-shelf KinectTM sensor, will be used in senior centers, retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation clinics, and private residences to promote adoption and adherence to an exercise program. Key innovations include: (1) integration of evidence-based strength and balance exercises into an immersive gaming experience; and (2) automated feedback to users and care-providers through advanced human motion tracking.