Independent Blog

There are two way I can go with this project. I can do the brain injury aspect of it, or I can do the fall prevention aspect of it.

1. There are two games in the brain injury category. One is called RESET, and the other is called Treasure of Bell Island. Both are to help the patients recover from a previous brain injury. The games evaluate the patients' attention, memory, visual perception, executive function. The mini games within these games test these different brain functions. By doing them over and practicing makes those skills improve, therefore, recovering their injury.
2. The fall prevention game is call Zoezi Park. This game can be played at their home under the instruction of a clinician. There is an xBox Kinect version and a tablet version, but both perform equally. In Zoezi Park, the patient performs simple exercises to build up muscle strength. By building up this strength, it decreases the chances of them falling.

For all of these games, when they are completed and work fully, during play, there will be information sent to a data base. Every player has their own login/password and their information is recorded throughout playing. This is so that their doctors can see their improvement and monitor their progress. This data base is called Deep Ocean.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1. I plan to interview Sheryl Flynn. She is the CEO of the Blue Marble Game Company, where I mentor. Her husband and she basically started the company, so I would like to interview her because she knows about everything that goes on.

2. Questions:

• How did she come up with the main idea/foundation of the BMGC?
• What do you believe the best way to prevent falling in elderly people is? Why?
• How does Zeozi Park prevent falling in elders?
• How big of a role, do you think, is this game going to play in the future medical world?/Do you think it someday will be?
• What was the most valuable place you went that led you here?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1. Topic: Elderly Care

2. What is the most effective way to keep the elderly safe, yet still have them able to accomplish daily tasks?

Blog 2: Summer Mentorship Component

1. Hours log:

Summer Mentorship Log

2. Contact name and number for volunteering:

Sheryl Flynn: (626)296-6400

3. What questions were raised because of the 10 hours of experience? List them.

• What is the best way to prevent falls for elderly people?
• Why is this solution one of the better solutions to fall prevention?
• How did they come up with this idea?
• When will this method be put into effect/be ready for the public?
• How much more can this method be expanded upon?

4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

I learned why fall prevention for older people is really important to society. Since a fall basically marks a downward spiral of many health issues for elders, preventing that fall and prolonging the inevitable greatly contributes to society. By preventing these falls, we have a wider range of people that should live longer.

5. What is you senior project topic going to be? How did what you did help you choose a topic? Explain.

My senior project is going to be fall prevention. Seeing what they do at the Blue Marble Game Co. showed me why what they do is so important. Since the baby boomer generation is coming up, this way of preventing falls is super creative and is a fun and effective way to help the older generations. I saw how important this is, and I want to learn more and help out as much as I can throughout the course of this school year.