Human Factors in Mobile Game Design

Smartphone games constitute popular activities and have increased in audiences and resources with the advancement of handheld device technology. However, their excessive use can result in postural problems as the body tries to adapt to undertaking gaming tasks. This book explores what considerations are required for gamers and producers for safe play and to promote wellbeing.

This book investigates mobile phone game design ergonomics and body postures whilst playing. It discusses whether using a handheld device and interacting with its touchscreen features and narratives can contribute to musculoskeletal injury risks. It covers the interface design approaches commonly found in the top-downloaded and played games for smartphones, crossing such data with the strategies gamers adopt to hold the devices while performing varied actions. The book highlights critical human factors, such as neck and spine flexion, thumb reachability, wrist rotation, elbow support, and visual accuracy. It delivers ergonomic recommendations for producers to design games that alleviate risks through careful consideration of the screen space, and for gamers to take some necessary steps to prevent injury. This title will give the reader an understanding of what adequate game design for effective human consideration looks like and what measures are needed for safer play.

Human Factors in Mobile Game Design: Measures to Prevent Injury and Risk is an ideal read for students and professionals in ergonomics/human factors, smartphone technology design, physiotherapy, game production, and orthopaedics.