JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Chinese Square Dance (known as Guang Chang Wu in Chinese) has been a well-known public fitness and entertaining way for older Chinese women to improve their flexibility, lower extremity strength, overall coordination and balance. However, injuries, conflicts with noise and venue problems are still challenging. Somatosensory games(SG) are increasingly popular physical fitness approach to promote selective attention of elderly with indoor engagement and exercises.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to develop and conduct a usability evaluation of the newly designed somatosensory square dance system for Chinese elderly.

Methods:

The somatosensory square dance system is a somatic training tool to provide adequate Chinese Square Dance fitness training based on Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and the design guidelines at our previous stage. Usability evaluation involved questionnaire and interview processes. 12 participants were interviewed both before and after the 15-minute dancing and learning process within the program. In addition, participants scored their satisfaction in psychological, physiological, and relaxation parts. Qualitative content analysis and quantitative analysis of the satisfaction scores supported understanding of usability problems.

Results:

For the interview results, 50% of the participants thought the system could correct their dancing movements indoors, and not affected by poor outdoor weather. 25% admitted this indoor system could protect their private space to enjoy the fitness. 25% stated this system could promote family relationships with providing easy dancing movements. All participants were highly satisfied with the system’s relaxation part (4.45 of 5). Participants were all psychologically satisfied and interested with the novel features with an average score of 4.16. Physiologically, participants affirmed that the system could help stay healthy (4.91 of 5).

Conclusions:

The results suggest that the somatosensory square dance system can be used as an indoor fitness tool to improve Chinese older square dancers’ health conditions with reasonable dance training. Noise and venue problems can be solved. The system’s Laban Elated Square Dance, modified by therapists from LMA and square dance design guidelines, were highly approved by dancers by decreasing the possibility of injuries, falls or joint damages with considering physical and psychological difficulties of elderly. Different feature levels will be considered in the next stage, such as selection of exercise, difficulty level settings, etc., users’ social needs will also be explored in subsequent stages.