Ergonomic Evaluation of Portable Video Games

Abstract

In this study, the authors evaluated the psycho-physiological effects of video games on players using an ergonomic process. Although video games affect users in various ways, this study focused on the short-term and direct effects. In an experiment, subjects played five kinds of video games on portable game machines for fifte en minutes. While each subject played a game, the authors measured electro-dermal activity during game play and profiled the subject's mood states and amylase in the saliva before and after he or she played. The authorsexaminedthediferencesbetweenthetensubjectsbeforeandaftermasteringthegames,thediferences and dif ficulty levels of the games, and the content of the gaming.