In today’s episode, Jenna welcomes four guests to talk about a novel research project!

From Centiviser Incorporated and the University of Toronto, Dr. Mark Chignell, Developer of the 2RaceWithMe device and Lisa Fannin, Educator and Volunteer. And from the Center of Innovation and Research in Aging (CIRA), Executive Director Justine Henry and Research Coordinator Debbie Barton.

The project team would like to acknowledge the contribution of Principal Investigator Dr. Jalila Jbilou, M.D., Ph.D., Professeure agrégée, From the School of Psychology and the Centre for Medical Training in New-Brunswick — Université de Moncton.

We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!

The Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging (CIRA), in collaboration with researchers from the Université de Moncton and University of Toronto, is trialing a novel way to promote physical activity for residents in long-term care centres. The Project is funded by the Department of Social Development (Healthy Seniors Pilot Project), Province of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF). Research and Ethics Committee approval was received from the Université de Moncton, in Moncton, New Brunswick. (#2021-054).

The 2RaceWithMe technology combines a ‘biking’ activity with travel around the world using augmented reality. Individuals, seated in an armchair or their wheelchair, can use the hand or foot pedals or both, to exercise and watch the travel videos. York Care Centre (YCC), a long-term care residence (LTC) in Fredericton, New Brunswick launched the pilot project in June 2021. A second site, the Faubourg du Mascaret, a long-term care centre in Moncton, New Brunswick is preparing for implementation in December 2021.

Key Takeaways

[:40] Jenna welcomes today’s four guests: From Centiviser Incorporated and the University of Toronto, Dr. Mark Chignell, Developer of the 2RaceWithMe device and Lisa Fannin, Educator and Volunteer. And from the Center of Innovation and Research in Aging (CIRA), Executive Director Justine Henry and Research Coordinator Debbie Barton.

[1:45] Justine shares who CIRA is and what they do in terms of partnerships with researchers in the field.

[3:16] The 2RaceWithMe technology uses augmented reality (AR) to promote physical activity in long-term care residents, Dr. Chignell shares a brief overview of what AR is and what the technology entails; he also touches on the two primary issues the 2RaceWithMe hopes to directly address.

[6:11] Dr. Chignell describes what the device looks like and how it is intended to be used by participants as well as how it incorporates mechanisms to compensate for people with upper or lower limb challenges.

[9:27] Debbie Barton breaks down the anticipated participation rate for the project and offers her thoughts on the expected outcomes of participant interaction with the technology.

[12:30] When implementing the technology, some special considerations were required; Justine touches on what was needed in terms of community engagement.

[15:22] Debbie explains the protocol prescribed in terms of activity requirements on the unit for the intervention period of this project.

[17:15] Justine talks about future research and outlooks for the project.

[18:46] Jenna thanks Mark, Lisa, Justine, and Debbie for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.

Mentioned in this episode

The MileAGE Podcast

CIRA: Agingresearch.ca/our-company

CIRA race with me project: Agingresearch.ca/2racewithme

Agewell Centivizer and testimonial: Youtu.be/OEvluo4EvOc

Twitter: @AgingResearchCA

LinkedIn: @AgingResearch

More about your hosts

Jenna Roddick at APPTA

Jenna Roddick on Twitter

Jenna Roddick on LinkedIn

More about today’s guests

Mark Chignell has a Ph.D. in mathematical psychology (University of Canterbury, 1981) and a Masters in Industrial and Systems Engineering (Ohio State, 1984). He was an Assistant Professor in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California from 1984 to 1990. He joined the Industrial Engineering Department at the University of Toronto as an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering in 1990 and is currently a Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, with a status-only appointment in the Department of Computer Science. He was previously the Director of the Knowledge Media Design Institute and BUL Chair in Human-Computer Interaction. Currently, he is the director of the Interactive Media Lab and the founder of Centivizer Inc., a University of Toronto spinoff company. He carries out research in human factors and user interface design, with particular interest in aging, interactive machine learning, and healthcare.

Justine Henry, Executive Director of CIRA, has an Honors Degree in Psychology from Mount Allison University (’10), a Diploma in Health Wellness and Recreation from Eastern College (‘12), and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick (‘19). Previously, she has worked as a researcher in many fields including behavioral psychology, adulthood and aging, chronic pain, and human sexuality. More recently, Justine completed her Lean Six Sigma training and is a certified Green Belt. She is currently completing the Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Program through Saskatchewan’s Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

Debbie Barton, Research Coordinator with CIRA, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Michigan State University. She’s worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in hospitals, schools, long-term care, and private practice. More recently, Debbie worked with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care and community-based organizations in Ontario, where she developed, implemented, and evaluated various healthcare initiatives. Debbie enjoys working with older adults and has always had an interest in research activities.

Lisa Fannin has a background in psychology and ESL teaching and retired from an administrative position at the University of Toronto last March. She became aware of the work of Professor Chignell’s team, got excited about it, and offered to volunteer and assist. She has a strong interest in healthy aging and has two family members living in long-term care.

Principal Investigator Dr. Jalila Jbilou, M.D., Ph.D., Professeure agrégée, From the School of Psychology and the Centre for Medical Training in New-Brunswick — Université de Moncton.

To get in touch with Dr. Jbilou:

École de psychologie-Université de Moncton

Centre de formation médicale du NB-Université de Moncton

Pavillon J-Raymond Frenette, Local B-127

Tel: (506)-858-4931

E-mail: jalila.jbilou@umoncton.ca