ThinkTune: auditory memory training game - investigating user engagement with words vs. nonwords

• Main Author: Ye, Xin
• Other Authors: Goh Wooi Boon
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Computer and Information Science
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/175700
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Concerns over cognitive decline have driven research into cognitive training applications like auditory memory games, offered on accessible training platforms. However, existing auditory cognitive training applications mainly focus on words, leaving the impact of nonwords underexplored. This study addresses this gap by developing "ThinkTune," a web application utilizing both nonwords and words for auditory memory training. A user study investigated the differential impact on user engagement. Results showed that nonwords, while challenging, were found by some to be more rewarding upon success, hence increasing user engagement. The study also identified design elements that contribute to user engagement in ThinkTune such as audio-visual elements and difficulty progression. These findings suggest that nonwords have potential in memory training applications, and that targeted design elements can enhance user experience.