Abstract
Young and older adults have difficulties in performance of an additional task while walking (dual
task). This feasibility study investigates the dual task costs of texting on a mobile phone and
walking among young and older adults, as well as the potential of a mixed reality app, which
projects the real world onto the background of the mobile display, to modify these costs. Seven
young (age 26.4±4.5 years) and 7 older (age 69.9±3.9 years) adults were asked to walk while
texting on a custom-written mobile android app (with and without mixed reality display), as well
as to perform each task (walking, texting) separately. Preliminary results show that dual task
interference of both tasks is similar in both groups. Using a mixed reality display does not modify
these costs, but does affect the subjective experience of the groups differently. This may be due to
different levels of familiarity with mobile phone use in the two groups. Additional data is currently
being collected.
task). This feasibility study investigates the dual task costs of texting on a mobile phone and
walking among young and older adults, as well as the potential of a mixed reality app, which
projects the real world onto the background of the mobile display, to modify these costs. Seven
young (age 26.4±4.5 years) and 7 older (age 69.9±3.9 years) adults were asked to walk while
texting on a custom-written mobile android app (with and without mixed reality display), as well
as to perform each task (walking, texting) separately. Preliminary results show that dual task
interference of both tasks is similar in both groups. Using a mixed reality display does not modify
these costs, but does affect the subjective experience of the groups differently. This may be due to
different levels of familiarity with mobile phone use in the two groups. Additional data is currently
being collected.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | presented at the The 11th International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies |
| Pages | 183-191 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| State | Published - 2016 |