Possibility Engineering: Designing interactive media to support children’s therapy goals

Abstract: For many years, children, families, and clinicians have been enthused by the idea of using movement tracking video games to motivate children with physical disabilities like cerebral palsy to participate in home-based exercise programs. “Kids love video games. Kids hate boring therapies. Let’s use video games for therapies!” But, can video games be used for motor therapy in a way that truly engages children or are they just “chocolate covered broccoli”? In this talk, we will discuss the design of therapy games and interventions through the lens of three contemporary theories of motivation: self-determination theory, expectancy-value theory, and social cognitive theory. We will see how these theories have been applied to the design of Botley’s Bootle Blast, a video game for motor therapies designed by the Possibility Engineering and Research Lab at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

RSVP: Please RSVP by 12 noon, Monday 4 February 2019 using the below form to beincluded in the catering order. http://shulab.mie.utoronto.ca/events/psycheng-seminar-reservation-prof-elaine-biddis-possibility-engineering/.

For more information, contact Min at psych_eng@mie.utoronto.ca